Amazon Union Leader Chris Smalls Detained & Beaten by IDF, But US Media Ignores It

[douglas9]

On Saturday, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) boarded the Handala, a ship associated with the Flotilla Freedom Coalition, that was attempting to reach Gaza with supplies for starving Palestinians. The IDF detained 20 activists, who had their hands held up, in graphic images that were captured by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.

Among those on the ship was Chris Smalls, who gained fame when he led a successful union drive at Amazon in Staten Island in 2022. President Biden even invited Smalls to meet with him at the White House to strategize on union organizing in 2022.

On Monday, details emerged that not only was Smalls detained, but he was physically beaten by the IDF. He was the only Black member of the Freedom Flotilla on the Handala.

“The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirms that upon arrival in Israeli custody, U.S. human rights defender, Christian Small, was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals,” wrote the Freedom Flotilla Coalition on Instagram. “They choked him and kicked him, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back”.

Still, despite Smalls having been profiled by every major media outlet in the U.S. when he successfully led the union drive at Amazon, not a single major media outlet has covered his violent detention by the IDF three days ago.

https://paydayreport.com/amazon-union-leader-chris-smalls-detained-beaten-by-idf-but-us-media-ignores-it/

[Bluestocking]

1. Perhaps it didn't happen

Any other sources?

[Omaha Steve]

2. More details on X

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

When he reached the Israeli prison, U.S. human rights defender Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals. They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back.
When his lawyer met with him, Chris was surrounded by six members of Israel’s special police unit. This level of force was not used against other abducted activists.
We condemn this violence against Chris and demand accountability for the assault and discriminatory treatment he faced.

[JMCKUSICK]

4. Thank you OS

[Jay25]

3. The California Faculty Association is calling for his release.

[neohippie]

5. Interesting take on a story about the media NOT COVERING this

I googled it and was not able to find any national media sources but there are social media posts


https://www.calfac.org/california-faculty-association-calls-for-the-immediate-release-of-chris-smalls-and-humanitarians-kidnapped-by-the-israeli-government-while-attempting-to-deliver-food-aid-to-gaza/

https://www.qatarmoments.com/freedom-flotilla-us-activist-chris-smalls-assaulted-in-israeli-custody-763552.html

https://zeteo.com/p/breaking-israeli-forces-intercept

https://paydayreport.com/amazon-union-leader-chris-smalls-detained-beaten-by-idf-but-us-media-ignores-it/

https://skwawkbox.org/2025/07/29/freedom-flotilla-condemns-israels-beating-of-us-crew-volunteer-taken-hostage/

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DMltIBFs2No/

[Bev54]

8. I guess some people really do not understand the depleted media in the US.

[questionseverything]

9. More than depleted...this is obviously censorship

[neohippie]

11. Here is a story in the UK Media

US labor activist Chris Smalls assaulted by IDF during Gaza aid trip, group says
Freedom Flotilla Coalition says Smalls was ‘choked and kicked’ after aid ship trying to reach Gaza was intercepted

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/29/chris-smalls-amazon-labor-union-gaza

On Saturday night, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted and boarded the Handala, an aid ship that attempted to reach Gaza as part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a grassroots international collective that has worked to end Israel’s blockade of Gaza since 2010. According to the coalition, IDF soldiers beat and choked the American labor activist Chris Smalls, who was onboard the ship. Smalls is most well-known for co-founding the Amazon Labor Union.

The Handala, which carried food, baby formula, diapers and medicine, was attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza, as Palestinians there continue to starve in what UN-backed hunger experts have called a “worst-case scenario of famine” that is unfolding.

“The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirms that upon arrival in Israeli custody, US human rights defender Chris Smalls was physically assaulted by seven uniformed individuals. They choked him and kicked him in the legs, leaving visible signs of violence on his neck and back,” the Freedom Flotilla Coalition wrote in a statement posted on Instagram on Tuesday morning.

“When his lawyer met with him, Chris was surrounded by six members of Israel’s special police unit. This level of force was not used against other abducted activists. We condemn this violence against Chris and demand accountability for the assault and discriminatory treatment he faced.”

Smalls, the only Black person onboard the boat, was one of 21 members of the group who were detained. Others included 19 civilians, including parliamentarians, medics and engineers, and two journalists. Jacob Berger, a Jewish American actor who shared on Instagram that Smalls was in “great spirits” after his detention – everyone else who was detained, he said, should be released on Tuesday or Wednesday.

[Hornedfrog2000]

6. Maybe if americans start using their

Right to use their firearms this would stop? We need to get tougher honestly. Having pedophiles attack us looks bad.

[mountain grammy]

7. This is an outrage

Israel is a terrorist state. Not another penny of “aid” to a country that commits crimes against humanity and America.
Not the first time.

[mountain grammy]

10. An update

https://paydayreport.com/chris-smalls-union-prez-teamsters-sean-obrien-silent-on-beating-by-idf-promotes-right-winger-on-social-media-instead/

What’s up Sean O’Brian?

[Bluestocking]

12. Up is down, down is up

The mainstream media is touting how great Trumps economy is and Tariffs are not causing problems. And of course no mention of this story.

I am officially done with regular news channels.