FLOTILLA activist Tom Deasy has spoken of his relief to be back home in West Cork after his release from a jail in Israel.

The 46-year-old from Castlefreke was one of 14 Irish citizens onboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, captured by the Israeli navy near Cyprus and held in gruelling conditions last week.

After arriving at Dublin airport on Saturday, the group of Irish activists, which included President Connolly’s sister Dr Margaret Connolly, spoke of extreme violence, sexual humiliation and severe injuries they suffered.

Mr Deasy sustained a black eye, had a rifle bashed into his back and was punched in the head during the ordeal, he said in an interview with RTÉ.

In an Instagram video, the West Cork tour guide said there were no words to describe how happy he was to be home.

He had mixed feelings leaving Palestinian prisoners in the same prison the flotilla activists were kept in, he said in the video.

‘To my comrades, I am thankful I got to sail with you how, how privileged I am that I got to know you and to see most of you going home to your families and loved ones just makes my heart full ,’ he said.

Ahead of his release and return via Turkey, family members in Clonakilty, Castlefreke and Rosscarbery were appalled to see footage circulating of Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, walking among the detainees and mocking them. The video showed activists made to kneel on the ground with their heads down and hands tied behind their back. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has criticised the treatment as ‘disgusting’ and ‘disgraceful’.

In his video Tom Deasy also expressed frustration over the recent Dáil vote on the Sanctions Against the State of Israel Bill, defeated by 15 votes.

He said he would want to address it with representatives who voted against sanctions or abstained.

‘I’ll be coming to your offices not to have a discussion, but to tell you exactly what I make of you and my plan for next duration because you will not have a simple moment with me around,’ he said.

Israeli officials have denied all claims of abuse of detainees.