Australia urges Israel to treat citizens captured at sea 'humanely'
Activists say 11 Australians were taken by Israeli forces during a raid on the Global Sumud Flotilla
The Australian government has called on Israel to abide by international norms after the rogue state captured 11 Australians in international waters.
At least 38 vessels of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were intercepted west of Cyprus on Monday at 5.30pm AEST, according to a GSF Australia statement.
Israeli forces boarded the vessels and captured 319 activists, including the Australian contingent, with interceptions of the remaining vessels ongoing, the statement read.
“Soldiers would destroy the boats’ cameras before abducting their crews,” it said.
Subhi Awad, a GSF Australia spokesperson, believes the activists are being taken to the Israeli port city of Ashdod (originally Isdud in Arabic pre-colonisation).
The detained Australians are Neve O’Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Anny Mokotow, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Gemma O’Toole, Violet Coco and Helen O’Sullivan.
Greens demand government action
A DFAT spokesperson told Deepcut they were “urgently seeking confirmation of the welfare of Australians we believe have been detained”.
“We will continue to make clear our expectation that any detainees receive humane treatment in line with international norms,” the spokesperson said.
Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi slammed the Israeli raid as an act of “piracy” and accused the Albanese government of “inaction” and “complicity”.
“It is beyond comprehension that this Labor government still calls Israel a friend after two years of genocide, and even the capture of Australian citizens is apparently not a red line for them. It is appalling.
“They should have already picked up the phone to demand the release and safe passage of all Australians aboard the flotilla, and they should leave no stone unturned. Instead, we have silence,” Faruqi said in a statement.
DFAT confirmed that government officials were in touch with Israeli authorities and ready to provide consular assistance.
Breaking a siege
The 11 Australians were part of a 74-ship humanitarian fleet determined to break Israel’s crippling siege of the Gaza Strip and deliver vital humanitarian aid.
That number was reduced to 52 ships after a separate Israeli attack on the flotilla last month near Greek waters. In that attack, 175 activists, including six Australians, were held onboard an Israeli ship for two days before being released in Crete, according to GSF Australia.
The Greek government, which has taken a pro-Israel position in recent years, faced heavy criticism for allowing the Israeli attack to take place, which left 36 activists requiring medical treatment.
Federal government criticises flotilla participation
The UN says Israel continues to restrict aid to Gaza despite a ceasefire last October. During its two-year genocide in Gaza, Israel was accused of deploying starvation as a weapon to kill civilians.
The allegations amounted to an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with the International Criminal Court charging Netanyahu with “starvation as a method of warfare”.
The federal government, nevertheless, repeated its call for Australians “not to join others seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade” to avoid risks.
“We encourage those wishing to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza to do so through established channels,” the DFAT spokesperson said.
GSF Australia defended Australian participation in the flotilla, saying they had a right to deliver lifesaving aid.
“Delivering aid to civilians is always legal, and blocking aid to civilians is always illegal,” Awad said.
Deepcut asked DFAT if the foreign minister, Penny Wong, would summon the Israeli ambassador to raise the matter.
The spokesperson did not answer the question, but said: “Australia has been part of the international call on Israel to comply with the binding orders of the International Court of Justice, including to enable the provision of basic services and humanitarian assistance at scale.”
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