GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA PARTICIPANT, ADRIEN JOUAN, SHOWING BRUISES ON BACK, DESCRIBING HIS INJURIES

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: PART AUDIO QUALITY AS INCOMING.

VERIFIED BY:

- Person shown in video with bruises identified as Adrien Jouan, a participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla aboard the boat Lina Al Nablusi, by his hair and facial features, which matched archive imagery

- Location verified by screen, ceiling and interior of building, which matched Reuters footage

- Date verified by Reuters footage from the same event

SHOWS: ISTANBUL, TURKEY (MAY 21, 2026) (GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA - No resales. No archive. Must on-screen courtesy Global Sumud Flotilla)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA PARTICIPANT, ADRIEN JOUAN, TALKING TO PEOPLE, SAYING:

"I think my ribs are painful, but some Arabic people, or looking like not white Europeans, they're much more beaten than I was."

2. JOUAN TAKING OFF KEFFIYEH, SHOWING BRUISES ON BACK

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA PARTICIPANT, ADRIEN JOUAN, SAYING:

"Happy to be here with you again, I guess, and never give up the fight, actually. Maybe we'll do something else on the flotillas later. You can imagine other ways of actions, but not give up on Palestinians. I see a lot of really proud, not proud, how to say, brave people there. That was just coming back and a guy from Jordan that was really, brave and every time he was beaten would come back again. I can't believe it. For me, this was already hard enough."

4. JOUAN WITH BRUISES ON ARM, TALKING, LOOKING AT PHONE

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

A participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) showed his back and arm covered in bruises after arriving in Istanbul on Thursday (May 21), after Israeli authorities intercepted the flotilla in the eastern Mediterranean.

Adrien Jouan said his ribs were painful and alleged others, particularly those who were not white Europeans, were beaten more severely.

Israeli police on Wednesday forced activists who were aboard the Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel on the ground in rows with their hands tied behind their backs while Israel's far-right police minister Itimar Ben-Gvir looked on, drawing criticism from foreign leaders and even from inside Israel's own government.

Reuters verified the identity of the person shown in the video with bruises as Adrien Jouan, a participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla aboard the boat Lina Al Nablusi, by his hair and facial features, which matched file imagery.

The location was verified as Istanbul, Turkey, by the screen, ceiling and interior of building, which matched Reuters footage. The date was verified by Reuters footage from the same event.

Israel's foreign ministry had said non-lethal means were used towards the flotilla vessels as a warning, and that no protesters were injured.

Activists said the alleged abuse took place at sea after their interception by Israeli naval forces and following their arrest and imprisonment in Israel.

The Israeli military referred questions to the foreign ministry, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Israel Prison Service did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

An Israel Prison Service spokesperson on Thursday denied allegations of abuse and said they were entirely without factual basis.

"All prisoners and detainees are held in accordance with the law, with full regard for their basic rights and under the supervision of professional and trained prison staff. Medical care is provided according to professional medical judgment and in accordance with Ministry of Health guidelines," they said.