An Irish activist who featured in footage posted online by the Israeli National Security Minister has spoken out about her treatment and what she witnessed while in Israeli detention.
Cat Graham was one of hundreds of activists, including 14 Irish people, detained while part of a flotilla attempting to break the blockade of Gaza.
On Wednesday, she could be seen in footage posted online by Israel's far right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, being pulled forcefully to the ground by security personnel after shouting 'Free, free Palestine'.
The footage also showed Mr Ben-Gvir taunting other activists. Dozens of detainees could also be seen kneeling in rows with their hands zip-tied behind their backs, as soldiers armed with guns patrolled the area aboard a military vessel.
The video has sparked international condemnation.
"When I saw him coming, when I saw him passing by, knowing the horrific crimes that he has committed, I could not stay silent," Ms Graham told RTÉ's Prime Time.
She said she was immediately "pulled to the ground, dragged away, brought into isolation" where she was surrounded by soldiers.
"I was preparing myself for anything that could happen next," she said, but she did not experience anything "too violent, thankfully, especially compared to what many others have experienced."
Watch: Footage posted by Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir
Ms Graham was speaking having been deported from Israel to Turkey yesterday.
It was the second time she had participated in a flotilla aimed at breaking the blockade of Gaza.
She said there was significantly more force used by Israeli personnel towards her and others this time around.
"Our boat was stopped. It was about three hours into the interception having begun," she said, "and they immediately started firing with rubber bullets."
"We've had reports of at least 15 sexual assaults, more than 30 broken bones, including clavicles, ribs and a few concussions as well."
She said several people had been taken directly to hospital after arriving on the Turkish Airlines flight from Israel.
Others who spoke to the media after being deported said they had been beaten while in detention.
The Israeli government has been consistently accused of mistreating activists linked to Gaza flotillas, as well as Palestinian prisoners.
It has repeatedly denied such allegations and says all of the activists' legal rights are upheld.
"I think everyone possibly this time [was] strip-searched, including myself, twice," Ms Graham said.
"This time, on the prison boat, we were stripped of any warm clothing, and we were left without any mattresses or blankets. We were sleeping on the bare metal and wood of the container ships," she said.
"They would regularly flood the floor. So, there were so many different things to try and disrupt us."
The footage posted by Minister Ben-Gvir shows him draped in the Israeli flag, walking past rows of activists.
"Look at them now. See how they look now, not heroes and not anything," Mr Ben-Gvir, says in Hebrew.
In another clip, he can be seen shouting at a handcuffed detainee.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the minister's conduct was "not in line with Israel's values and norms."
Read more: Taoiseach condemns 'disgusting' video of flotilla activists
Across Europe, governments summoned Israeli ambassadors to condemn the video.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee described the footage as "appalling" and "unacceptable".
European Council President Antonio Costa said that he was "appalled" by the footage.
"This behaviour is completely unacceptable. We call for their immediate release," Mr Costa wrote on social media.
Italy demanded an apology, Spain said that it would not tolerate maltreatment of its citizens, and France demanded the release of the detainees.
The UK foreign ministry said the video "violates the most basic standards of respect and dignity for people", while Poland's foreign minister called for Mr Ben-Gvir to be banned from entering the country.
US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee said the minister had "betrayed (the) dignity of his nation."
Asked whether she would travel on a flotilla again in future, Ms Graham said she would.
"Their actions will never stop us," she said. "We are going to continue resisting."
