Four French lawmakers from La France Insoumise have begun a hunger strike to protest their detention conditions after being captured by Israeli forces during the interception of the Freedom Flotilla bound for Gaza.

According to MEP Manon Aubry, the detainees, François Piquemal, Marie Mesure, Rima Hassan, and Emma Fourreau, are being held in overcrowded cells with little access to clean water. Aubry urged the French government to act immediately to secure the release of all 30 French nationals still detained in Israel.

Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon condemned the government’s inaction, accusing French authorities of “cowardice” for abandoning their own citizens while detainees from other nations have already been released.

Israeli naval forces intercepted over 40 vessels from the Global Freedom Flotilla, which was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Organisers said Israeli troops used sewage water cannons and electronic jamming before detaining hundreds of volunteers from 47 countries, actions widely condemned as another attempt to suppress global solidarity with the besieged Palestinian population.