Last two volunteers on Freedom Flotilla vessel released from Israeli detention

An American man and a Tunisian man detained by Israel while on board a Freedom Flotilla vessel heading to Gaza were released from prison on Thursday. 

Christian Smalls and Hatem Aouini were aboard the Handala when it was stormed by Israeli forces in international waters on 26 July.

Both were put in Givon prison in Israel. Both went on hunger strike for five days to protest against mistreatment.

Aouini was met by Tunisian embassy staff at the border with Jordan.

US consulate and US Embassy officials did not meet with Smalls despite repeated requests for assistance and being notified in advance of his arrival details, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said in a press release.

All 21 volunteers aboard the Handala have now been released from Israeli captivity. 

The raid of the Handala was broadcast live by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, showing soldiers confronting unarmed passengers as they sat on deck with their hands raised, singing the anti-fascist anthem "Bella Ciao."

The Handala, carrying 19 activists, including European MPs and two Al Jazeera journalists, was intercepted roughly 100 kilometres west of Gaza, and around 50km off Egypt's coast.

More than 10,300 Palestinian political prisoners remain captive in Israeli prisons, with at least 320 of them children in violation of international law.