A United States citizen who was detained by Israel on the Global Sumud Flotilla, which tried to deliver aid to Gaza, says he and other activists endured abuse and “psychological torture” in Israeli custody.
David Adler, who was released and deported to Jordan on Tuesday, said after Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters, they took the activists to a prison complex in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
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“We were kidnapped, stripped, zip-tied, blindfolded and sent to an internment camp on a police van without any access to food, to water, to legal support,” he said. “And for the next five days, on and off, we were psychologically tortured.”
In an audio message shared with Al Jazeera through the advocacy group Progressive International, Adler said he and another Jewish activist were picked out and forced to be photographed with Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
“After interception, we were violently forced onto our knees into positions of submission, where the two Jews of the flotilla were taken by the ear and ripped from the group for a photo-op with Ben-Gvir, staring at the flag of the State of Israel, taunted by his goons,” Adler said.
He described his time in detention as a “five-day nightmare of serial and systematic violations of our most basic rights”.
‘My Jewish heritage demands it’
Adler, who is co-general coordinator at Progressive International, added that riot troops would raid the prison with attack dogs at night to “terrify and terrorise” the detainees.
His testimony adds to the allegations of mistreatment of flotilla activists, who included climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The flotilla – a collection of more than 40 boats and 470 people from across the world – aimed to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza, which has sparked a deadly hunger crisis in the territory.
Israel intercepted the flotilla in international waters last week, a move that human rights advocates have argued is illegal.
Adler was one of more than 20 US citizens in the group and among the last to be released.
Earlier this week, about two dozen lawmakers from the activist’s home state of California penned a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio calling on him to push for Adler to be freed.
As he was sailing towards Gaza last week, Adler shared a social media post reflecting on his Jewish identity and the decision to participate in the flotilla.
“If there’s any part of the Torah that I still remember, it is this obligation it bestows upon us: ‘Justice, justice you shall pursue.’ How could we stand by while the State of Israel perverts this holy obligation, overseeing a holocaust of the Palestinian people?” Adler wrote.
“I joined this flotilla just like any other delegate – to defend humanity before it is too late. But on Yom Kippur, I am reminded that I am also here because my Jewish heritage demands it.”
Trump envoy taunts Adler
According to Adler, US officials did not provide any consular services to him and other Americans who were imprisoned by Israel.
“The US general consul said, ‘We are not your babysitters. You’d have no food, no water, no money, no phones, no planes,’” he said. “‘We’re taking you straight to the airport, and you’re on your own.’”
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee had rebuked Adler personally, calling him a “self-absorbed tool of Hamas”.
Huckabee also echoed the false Israeli claims that the flotilla is “Hamas-funded”.
Palestinian rights advocates and many Palestinians in Gaza welcomed the flotilla, saying it demonstrates the power of individuals to take direct action to help the people in Gaza even if they fail to reach the shores of the territory.
In his message, Adler called the mistreatment of the activists a marker of “how rogue the state of Israel has become in its utter disregard for basic international humanitarian law”.
“I’m obviously very aware that all of this pales in comparison to the treatment that Palestinians endure every single day,” he said.
Israel holds thousands of Palestinian detainees, many without charge or trial.
Rights groups and United Nations experts have documented horrific and systemic torture of Palestinians in Israeli prisons, including the use of starvation and sexual violence against captives.
Israel continues to imprison US teenager Mohammed Ibrahim, who was arrested in the occupied West Bank in February and has since lost more than a quarter of his body weight, according to his family.
The Israeli government’s Press Office and US Department of State did not respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment by the time of publication.
IF you’re wondering where your money’s going each month, it might not be big bills or bad luck to blame but small, repeated mistakes that add up fast.
From letting your savings sit in low-interest accounts, to underestimating the real cost of long mortgage terms, financial experts warn that common habits could be quietly emptying your bank accounts.
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Small, repeated mistakes could be the reason your bank balance is dwindlingCredit: getty
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Money experts revealed the biggest habits that are keeping people poorCredit: Getty
We asked money experts and behavioural scientists to reveal the biggest habits that are holding people back.
1. Not knowing what’s coming in and going out
It’s hard to feel in control of your money when you don’t know where it’s actually going.
Many people assume they have a rough idea, but the reality is that forgotten subscriptions, auto-renewing services and small daily purchases quickly add up.
Without visibility, your budget can slowly unravel, and by the time you realise, you’ve slipped into the red.
Vix Leyton, consumer expert at Thinkmoney, says the fix starts with routine: “Take time to know what your outgoings are and what is coming in.
“Some apps, like Thinkmoney, offer a snapshot of what you’re spending, and can even ringfence bill money for you so you don’t accidentally end up facing penalties and late fees.”
Even a five-minute weekly check-in can help avoid nasty surprises and highlight where cutbacks are needed.
2. Living without a savings buffer
It’s hard to save money – but not having a buffer can leave you exposed to high credit when you need cash quickly.
Whether it’s a broken boiler, a car that won’t start or a sudden cut in hours at work, not having a cushion means falling back on credit cards or payday loans just to stay afloat.
The result is a constant feeling of stress, and a budget that can be thrown off by the smallest shock.
Thomas Mathar, behavioural researcher and host of The Money:Mindshift Podcast, says a little slack goes a long way.
He said: “Even a modest buffer, like one month’s rent, can give you the breathing space to make better decisions and avoid high-cost debt.
“It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about having mental and financial slack when life throws you a curveball.”
3. Letting debt pile up month after month
More and more people have credit card debt, which means it can be easy to think it’s business as usual, especially when the minimum payments are low.
But ultimately, you’re paying interest to the bank instead of putting that money toward your own goals. Over time, that can add up to hundreds or even thousands of pounds in lost savings.
“Too many people accept credit card debt as a normal state of affairs. It’s not,” says Mathar.
I’ve made over £56k with a side hustle anyone can do – skint people must stop being scared and should try something new
“Paying down high-interest debt quickly is one of the most powerful things you can do for your long-term well being. It’s buying yourself back freedom, and peace of mind.”
If you’re juggling multiple debts, focus on the most expensive ones first and look into 0% balance transfer options if your credit score allows.
4. Having psychological armour to support you
In the age of side hustles and flashy online success stories, it’s tempting to ditch steady work for riskier pursuits.
But without a reliable income it’s hard to build long-term security.
Inconsistent earnings often mean falling behind on bills, using credit to bridge the gap, and struggling to plan ahead.
Mathar warns that it’s important to have some sort of regular income, even if you’re pursuing other hustles on the side.
He says: “A steady income isn’t just about covering bills, it’s psychological armour.
“When you’re living month-to-month or under-earning compared to your potential, the stress compounds.
“You don’t need to chase big money, but you do need income that’s ‘good enough’ to support a resilient, happy life.”
5. Leaving savings in a dead-end account
You might feel good about putting money aside, but if it’s sitting in an easy-access account earning barely any interest, your savings are losing value in real terms.
With inflation still high, the cost of leaving cash in low-yield accounts is higher than many realise.
Adam said: “The likes of HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Santander, NatWest and Barclays all have easy access accounts paying around 1.1 to 1.2 per cent interest, far below the typical returns savers could expect, which is currently 3.51 per cent.”
The top performing options can pay even more, and shopping around and switching accounts only takes a few minutes online.
How to effectively manage your money
Kara Gammell, finance expert at MoneySuperMarket, gives tips on how to get a handle on your finances so you have more left for saving,
If you’re struggling to get a grip on your finances, the way to start is to do a proper inventory.
Try Emma, the money management app, which uses open banking to combine information from all your bank accounts, savings accounts and credit cards, plus investments. The app then highlights any wasteful subscriptions and costly debt and helps streamline your savings.
What’s more, it analyses your personal finances and recommends ways to conserve money so that you can get on track financially more easily than ever.
If you want to have a deep dive into your spending habits, go through your bank statement at the end of each month and give every purchase a rating of one, two or three.
Mark with a ‘one’ any purchases that didn’t make you feel good; give a ‘two’ rating to things that felt ‘sort of good but indifferent’; and mark with ‘three’ any purchases that you would make all over again in a heartbeat.
You’ll be surprised by what you learn.
Monitor your credit report
From overdrafts to loans, credit cards, mobile phones and mortgages, it can be hard to keep track of your finances, and it can be all too simple to find yourself in the dark about how much debt you have in total.
But this information forms your credit score, which is used by lenders to determine whether you’ll be offered competitive rates and offers for financial products, or even whether you will even be accepted when you make an application.
I’m automatically notified when my credit report is updated monthly, which can be a huge help in avoiding any financial problems from spiralling and means I always know what my overall financial situation is.
The tool also suggests ways to improve your credit score, so you’re more likely to be offered competitive interest rates, which helps you save money in the long run.
6. Not making the most of your ISA allowance
More savers than ever are being hit with tax bills they could have avoided.
Frozen tax thresholds mean that even modest savers can end up over the personal savings allowance, paying tax on any interest they earn.
That means, if you’re not using your ISA allowance, you’re potentially giving money away for free.
French explains: “Saving and investing are some of the best ways to build wealth over time.
“But it’s important that savers are aware of their tax liability on any profits they make – which can add up over the course of a few years.
Plenty of savers can avoid this tax bill by making use their yearly ISA allowances.
You can save or invest up to £20,000 a year tax-free, and every pound sheltered from tax is a pound that keeps working for you.
7. Only saving for retirement, and nothing else
Putting money into a pension is smart, but it shouldn’t be your only savings plan.
Many people now take career breaks, retrain, care for relatives or start businesses, and those transitions need funding too.
Mathar says ignoring this reality can leave people exposed.
“We don’t live three-stage lives anymore – education, work, retirement… A ‘transition fund’ – even just a few months’ salary – makes those big life pivots possible without financial panic.”
8. Being too harsh on yourself when things go wrong
Money mistakes happen. But too often, people fall into a cycle of guilt and avoidance, especially if they’re already struggling.
That mindset can stop you from facing your finances or reaching out for help, which only makes things worse in the long run.
Mathar believes the solution starts with self-empathy. “Here’s the truth: we’re all a bit messed up when it comes to money.
Our brains are wired for short-term wins, not long-term planning.
The goal isn’t to be perfect with money; it’s to build enough slack, mental and financial, so that one mistake or setback doesn’t knock you flat.”
9. Not overpaying your mortgage when you could
With mortgage rates still high and household budgets under pressure, many borrowers are choosing longer terms to keep monthly payments manageable.
But unless you’re also making overpayments, that strategy can come at a serious long-term cost.
French says small changes now can lead to huge savings later: “Overpaying by £200 per month on that same £250,000 40-year mortgage could shave almost 13 years off the mortgage term, saving them around £123,000 in interest payments.
“This is all without being tied to having to consistently make higher payments every single month – boosting the flexibility of their budget and their financial resilience.”
Most lenders allow up to 10 per cent overpayment each year.
Even £50 a month can help you become mortgage-free sooner and pay far less in interest overall.
Top tips for becoming an ISA millionaire
SAVING into a stocks and shares ISA can help you build wealth faster over the long term than cash savings. Dan Coatsworth, investment analyst at savings platform AJ Bell, gives his advice…
Start as early as you can
Time in the market is important, not just so you can ride the market ups and downs but also to let your wealth build up.
Not everyone can afford to invest the full £20,000 ISA allowance each year, particularly younger people who might be on a lower salary.
The trick is to start as early as possible with what you can afford to invest. Increase your contributions as you get older, such as when you get a pay rise.
Maximise your contributions
Try to invest as much as you can each month once you’re sure all the essentials are covered.
Create a budget so you can pay bills in full and clear any expensive debt, such as personal loans or credit cards.
The remaining money can be used to fund your lifestyle and to top up your ISA.
Be consistent with contributions
Feeding your account on a regular basis means you get into the habit of squirrelling money away for your future.
After a while you get accustomed to that money going into your ISA that you may not even think about alternative uses for it, such as going shopping or down the pub with your friends.
Keep an eye on costs and charges
Costs can add up over time and eat into your returns. Try not to fiddle too much with your portfolio as trading in and out of investments incurs transaction charges.
It is important to be patient with investing, especially for someone hoping to be an ISA millionaire as the journey to build up this wealth could last for decades.
Having a diversified portfolio is good practice for any investor and essentially means keeping different types of investments to help balance out the risk.
Then if something goes wrong with one of your investments, you’ve got the rest to hopefully act as a cushion to minimise the pain.
Diversification can involve investing in different industry sectors, geographies and asset types. For example, a diversified portfolio might have exposure to shares, funds and bonds from around the world.
Companies and funds often pay dividends every three to six months.
Think of these as rewards for taking the risk of owning their shares or fund units. While it can be tempting to pocket that income stream to spend on yourself, history suggests one of the biggest contributors to investment returns is reinvesting dividends back into your account to grow wealth faster.
WASHINGTON — Kilmar Abrego Garcia said he suffered severe beatings, severe sleep deprivation and psychological torture in the notorious El Salvador prison the Trump administration had deported him to in March, according to court documents filed Wednesday.
He said he was kicked and hit so often after arrival that by the following day, he had visible bruises and lumps all over his body. He said he and 20 others were forced to kneel all night long and guards hit anyone who fell.
Abrego Garcia was living in Maryland when he was mistakenly deported and became a flashpoint in President Trump’s immigration crackdown. The new details of Abrego Garcia’s incarceration in El Salvador were added to a lawsuit against the Trump administration that Abrego Garcia’s wife filed in Maryland federal court after he was deported.
The Trump administration has asked a federal judge in Maryland to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that it is now moot because the government returned him to the United States as ordered by the court.
A U.S. immigration judge in 2019 had barred Abrego Garcia from being deported back to his native El Salvador because he likely faced persecution there by local gangs who had terrorized him and his family. The Trump administration deported him there despite the judge’s 2019 order and later described it as an “administrative error.” Trump and other officials have since doubled down on claims Abrego Garcia was in the MS-13 gang.
On March 15, Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador and sent to the country’s mega-prison known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.
In the new court documents, Abrego Garcia said detainees at CECOT “were confined to metal bunks with no mattresses in an overcrowded cell with no windows, bright lights that remained on 24 hours a day, and minimal access to sanitation.”
He said prison officials told him repeatedly that they would transfer him to cells with people who were gang members who would “tear” him apart. Abrego Garcia said he saw others in nearby cells violently harm each other and heard screams from people throughout the night.
His condition deteriorated and he lost more than 30 pounds in his first two weeks there, he said.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Maryland Democrat, visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador in April. The senator said Abrego Garcia reported he’d been moved from the mega-prison to a detention center with better conditions.
The Trump administration continued to face mounting pressure and a Supreme Court order to return him to the United States. When the U.S. government brought back Abrego Garcia last month, it was to face federal human smuggling charges in Tennessee.
Attorney General Pam Bondi said at the time of Abrego Garcia’s return that this “is what American justice looks like.” But Abrego Garcia’s attorneys called the charges “preposterous” and an attempt to justify his mistaken expulsion.
A federal judge in Tennessee has ruled that Abrego Garcia is eligible for release — under certain conditions — as he awaits trial on the criminal charges in Tennessee. But she has kept him in jail for now at the request of his own attorneys over fears that he would be deported again upon release.
Justice Department spokesman Chad Gilmartin told The Associated Press last month that the department intends to try Abrego Garcia on the smuggling charges before it moves to deport him again.
Separately, Justice Department attorney Jonathan Guynn told a federal judge in Maryland last month that the U.S. government plans to deport Abrego Garcia to a “third country” that isn’t El Salvador. Guynn said there was no timeline for the deportation plans. But Abrego Garcia’s attorneys cited Guynn’s comments as a reason to fear he would be deported “immediately.”
Baumann and Finley write for the Associated Press.
