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Shahidul noted they were held in one of Israel’s most secure prisons, located deep in the desert. While there, a fellow detainee, who had been captured from another ship, told him that Israeli forces had accused him of being a Hamas agent and threatened to shoot him once inside the facility.

Shahidul said he and several other detainees went on a hunger strike during their imprisonment, adding that they were made to sleep on iron beds.

“The toilets were deplorable. But, something extraordinary happened. Those in cell seven composed a parody to the tune of Bella Ciao, the iconic Italian resistance anthem. Their version was called ‘Working toilet, working toilet’.

“They sang it loud. Their toilet was broken, and despite their complaints, nothing was being done. Soon, others joined in and made sure their voices were heard.”

“Even when guards stormed in with guns and ordered us to stop, we kept singing,” recalled Shahidul, adding that for them, it was an act of resistance.

Describing his peers as extraordinary, Shahidul said despite being aware of the risks, they remained committed to justice for Palestinians.

When asked by a journalist about their next steps, Shahidul Alam replied, “Because some truly remarkable individuals came together, we’ve decided to build an international network. Since global leaders won’t take action, we activists are preparing to fight for what must be done. We’ve already drafted a blueprint, and even before returning, we resolved to go back. Next time, a thousand ships will sail.”

Shahidul thanked the people of Bangladesh and Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus for supporting the flotilla, unlike many other big countries.

“Free Palestine,” he said before ending the press conference.

As part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, Shahidul’s ship, the Conscience, along with eight other smaller vessels, was sailing toward war-ravaged Gaza to challenge Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the besieged enclave when it was intercepted on Wednesday.

This was the second interception, after Israel the week before stopped about 40 vessels and detained more than 450 activists in an aid convoy, the Global Sumud Flotilla, that was also attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza.