Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, has returned to South Africa after being detained and deported by Israel for participating in a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.
Mandela and four other South Africans were held in an Israeli prison for six days before being released via Jordan.
Upon arrival at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, Mandela described the harsh treatment he received, saying, “We were handcuffed with cable ties tied tightly behind our backs, taken off our boats, put on the platform and paraded for all… to see.”
However, he emphasized that the experience was nothing compared to what Palestinians have endured under Israel’s military offensive against Hamas.
Israel has denied mistreating detainees, dismissing the flotilla as a publicity stunt benefiting Hamas.
