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Swiss Gaza Flotilla Activists Allege ‘Inhumane Detention Conditions’ in Israel 

Relatives of Swiss activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla wave Palestinian flags as they wait for their arrival at Geneva Airport from Istanbul after Israel stopped a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of people, in Geneva on October 5, 2025. (AFP)
Relatives of Swiss activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla wave Palestinian flags as they wait for their arrival at Geneva Airport from Istanbul after Israel stopped a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of people, in Geneva on October 5, 2025. (AFP)
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Swiss Gaza Flotilla Activists Allege ‘Inhumane Detention Conditions’ in Israel 

Relatives of Swiss activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla wave Palestinian flags as they wait for their arrival at Geneva Airport from Istanbul after Israel stopped a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of people, in Geneva on October 5, 2025. (AFP)
Relatives of Swiss activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla wave Palestinian flags as they wait for their arrival at Geneva Airport from Istanbul after Israel stopped a Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of people, in Geneva on October 5, 2025. (AFP)

Nine members of the Gaza aid flotilla arrived home in Switzerland on Sunday after being deported by Israel, with some alleging they had been subject to inhumane conditions whilst in detention there, the group representing them said.

Israel did not immediately comment on the new allegations. Its foreign ministry previously described reports that detainees had been mistreated as "complete lies".

Nineteen Swiss nationals, including the former mayor of Geneva Remy Pagani, were aboard boats in the flotilla of dozens of vessels that tried to deliver aid to Israeli-blockaded Gaza.

They were taken into custody on Wednesday by Israeli forces who intercepted the flotilla at sea and taken to Israel's Ktzi'ot prison, according to the Waves of Freedom flotilla group.

Nine of the group returned to Geneva on Sunday afternoon.

"The participants condemned the inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment they suffered upon their arrest and incarceration," a statement by the group said.

Israel said on Sunday that the legal rights of the activists were being "fully upheld", that no physical force was used and all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms.

Detainees described conditions of sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, kicked, and locked in a cage, the statement added.

Waves of Freedom said it is "deeply concerned" about the ten Swiss nationals who remain detained by Israel.

On Sunday, the Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv visited the ten Swiss nationals in prison to provide consular protection.

"All are in relatively good health, given the circumstances," it said in a statement, adding it is doing everything possible to ensure their prompt return.

The Waves of Freedom said some have gone on hunger strike and appear weakened.

Hundreds of other activists including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg were also detained in what was the latest attempt by activists to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza, where it has been waging war since Hamas' October 2023 attack.

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World

Clintons Call for Their Epstein Testimony to Be Public

Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
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Clintons Call for Their Epstein Testimony to Be Public

Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
Images of former US President Bill Clinton are on display as Chairman of the House Oversight Committee James Comer (R-KY) speaks during a meeting to vote on whether to hold Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas to testify in the panel's investigation of the late convicted offender Jeffrey Epstein, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., US, January 21, 2026. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Former US president Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary are calling for their congressional testimony on ties to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein to be held publicly, to prevent Republicans from politicizing the issue.

Both Clintons had been ordered to give closed-door depositions before the House Oversight Committee, which is probing the deceased financier's connections to powerful figures and how information about his crimes was handled, said AFP.

Democrats say the probe is being weaponized to attack political opponents of President Donald Trump -- himself a longtime Epstein associate who has not been called to testify -- rather than to conduct legitimate oversight.

House Republicans had previously threatened a contempt vote if the Democratic power couple did not show up to testify, which they have since agreed to do.

But holding the deposition behind closed doors, Bill Clinton said Friday, would be akin to being tried at a "kangaroo court."

"Let's stop the games & do this the right way: in a public hearing," the former Democratic president said on X.

Hillary Clinton, former secretary of state, said the couple had already told the Republican-led Oversight Committee "what we know."

"If you want this fight...let's have it in public," she said Thursday.

The Justice Department last week released the latest cache of so-called Epstein files -- more than three million documents, photos and videos related to its investigation into Epstein, who died from what was determined to be suicide while in custody in 2019.

Bill Clinton features regularly in the files, but no evidence has come to light implicating either Clinton in criminal activity.

The former president has acknowledged flying on Epstein's plane in the early 2000s for Clinton Foundation-related humanitarian work, but said he never visited Epstein's private island.

Hillary Clinton, who ran against Trump for president in 2016, said she had no meaningful interactions with Epstein, never flew on his plane and never visited his island.

World

Two Airports in Poland Closed Due to Russian Strikes on Ukraine

Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)
Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)
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Two Airports in Poland Closed Due to Russian Strikes on Ukraine

Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)
Lublin Airport is unavailable due to military activity involving NATO aircraft (Reuters)

Two airports in southeastern Poland were suspended from operations as a precaution due to Russian strikes on nearby Ukraine territory, Polish authorities said on Saturday.

"In connection with the need to ensure the possibility of the free operation of military aviation, the airports in Rzeszow and Lublin ‌have temporarily ‌suspended flight operations," ‌Polish Air ⁠Navigation Services Agency ‌posted on X.

Both cities are close to the country's border with Ukraine, with Rzeszow being NATO's main hub for arms supplies to Ukraine, Reuters said.

Military aviation had begun operating in Polish airspace due to Russian ⁠strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of ‌the Polish Armed Forces said on ‍X.

"These actions are ‍of a preventive nature and ‍are aimed at securing and protecting the airspace, particularly in areas adjacent to the threatened regions," the army said.

Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 posted on X that the closure involved NATO aircraft operating in the area.

The ⁠US Federal Aviation Administration said in a notice to airmen that both airports were inaccessible due to the military activity related to ensuring state security.

Last month, Rzeszow and Lublin suspended operations for a time, but the authorities said then that the military aviation operations were routine and there had been no threat to ‌Polish airspace.

World

Police Warn Sydney Protesters ahead of Israeli President’s Visit

01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)
01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)
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Police Warn Sydney Protesters ahead of Israeli President’s Visit

01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)
01 February 2026, Australia, Sydney: A protester holds a poster during a Free Palestine rally protesting the invitation of Isaac Herzog to Australia at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne. (Jay Kogler/AAP/dpa)

Australian authorities warned protesters to avoid violence in Sydney's streets when Israeli President Isaac Herzog visits on Monday to honor victims of the Bondi Beach mass shooting.

Police say they will deploy in large numbers for the Israeli head of state's visit following the December 14 attack on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people.

"It's really important that there's no clashes or violence on the streets in Sydney," New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters on Saturday.

"Our clear message is in an unambiguous way that we're hoping that people can remain calm and respectful during that presidential visit."

The state premier promised a "massive policing presence" in Sydney on Monday afternoon.

State police declared the Sydney visit to be a "major event", a designation that allows them to separate different groups to reduce the risk of confrontation.

Herzog has said he will "express solidarity and offer strength" to the Jewish community in Australia during his four-day visit, which starts Monday.

The trip has been welcomed by many Jewish Australians.

"His visit will lift the spirits of a pained community," said Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the community's peak body.

Pro-Palestinian activists have called for protests nationwide, however, including in parts of central Sydney where police have refused to authorize demonstrations under new powers granted after the Bondi Beach attack.

- 'Full immunity' -

Amnesty International Australia has also urged supporters to rally for an end to "genocide" against Palestinians, and urged Herzog be investigated for alleged war crimes.

High-profile Australian human rights lawyer Chris Sidoti -- a member of a UN-established inquiry into rights abuses in Israel and the Palestinian territories -- called this week for Herzog's invitation to be withdrawn, or for his arrest on arrival.

The UN's Independent International Commission of Inquiry found in 2025 that Herzog "incited the commission of genocide" by saying all Palestinians -- "an entire nation" -- were responsible for the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

Australia's federal police have ruled out an arrest, with senior officials telling lawmakers this week that they received legal advice Herzog had "full immunity" covering civil and criminal matters, including genocide.

Critics have accused Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's center-left government of moving too slowly to protect Jewish Australians ahead of the Bondi Beach shooting despite a rise in antisemitic attacks since 2023.

Alleged Bondi Beach gunman Sajid Akram, 50, was shot and killed by police during the attack.

An Indian national, he entered Australia on a visa in 1998.

His 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen who remains in prison, has been charged with terrorism and 15 murders.