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October 14, 2025 – USA/Palestine –
Noa Avishag Schnall, an American photojournalist aboard a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla, has publicly alleged that she endured horrific mistreatment while in Israeli custody. According to her account, she and other detainees were subjected to beatings across multiple parts of the body, including the face, back, stomach, and skull. In one instance, she says guards lifted her by metal shackles attached to her wrists and ankles and seated a guard on her face, restricting her breathing.
Schnall further claims the detainees were roused from sleep with explicit threats of rape. She described a hostile environment in which both men and women prisoners were terrorized—men faced attacks by dogs, and women confronted threats involving pepper spray. She also alleged that guards used violence and psychological pressure to subdue detainees.
These allegations have drawn media attention and surfaced amid an already fraught context between Israel and the Palestinian territories. In a video statement, Schnall’s face bore visible bruising, which she said attests to the severity of her treatment. Her claims have rapidly circulated in international press outlets, including Hindustan Times, Financial Express, and ABNA, among others.
In the aftermath, skepticism and demands for accountability have emerged among human rights observers and media freedom advocates. Some stress the need for independent investigations to verify her claims and ensure that abuses in detention do not go unchecked. Others point to such incidents as indicative of the dangers journalists face when covering conflict zones, especially in situations involving contested territorial control and military oversight.
As of now, Israeli authorities have not publicly confirmed or refuted Schnall’s allegations. The case adds to a broader debate about detainee rights, journalistic safety in conflict areas, and the treatment of foreign media working in highly volatile zones.
Reference –
https://en.abna24.com/news/1738493/US-journalist-recounts-extreme-brutality-threats-of-rape-after
