Penny Wong to summon Israeli ambassador over flotilla abuse
Israel is facing sharp condemnation over its treatment of humanitarian activists captured at sea
The foreign minister, Penny Wong, will summon the Israeli ambassador over “shocking” treatment of Gaza-bound humanitarian activists currently detained in Israel.
Australia joins Spain, Canada, France, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and the UK in issuing summons to their respective Israeli envoys after far-right Israeli national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, posted a video of the detained activists.
A spokesperson for the foreign minister said the images were “shocking and unacceptable”.
“We condemn Israeli Minister Ben-Gvir – who Australia has sanctioned – and the degrading actions of Israeli authorities towards those detained,” the spokesperson told Deepcut.
“Australia’s ambassador to Israel made representations overnight to Israel, calling for the release of those detained and for Israel to ensure no ill treatment of any detainees and act in line with international obligations.”
Wong posted on social media that she had “directed DFAT to call in Israel’s Ambassador to Australia to reinforce this message”.
Western condemnation
The video shows Ben-Gvir taunting the activists as they lay kneeling on the ground with their hands bound.
The footage drew immediate condemnation from western governments, with the UK foreign secretary, Yvonne Cooper, saying the footage showed “totally disgraceful scenes”.
Tom Berendsen, the Dutch foreign minister, echoed those remarks.
“The images shared by extremist Minister Ben-Gvir of detained flotilla activists are shocking and unacceptable,” he said.
Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, said it was “inadmissible that these demonstrators, including many Italian citizens, are subjected to this treatment that violates human dignity.”
Spain condemned the footage as “monstrous” and is pushing for EU-wide sanctions against Ben-Gvir “on an urgent basis”.
Suspected broken ribs and rubber bullet wounds
Israeli forces intercepted the 52-ship Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters on Monday, capturing over 400 activists including 11 Australians.
The activists were taken to the Israeli port city of Ashdod (Isdud in pre-colonial Palestine), where they have allegedly been met with abuse.
Adalah – an Israeli human rights group and legal centre – says their attorneys were able to provide “legal consultation to hundreds of unlawfully detained flotilla participants”.
They reported “systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities”.
This included “dozens of participants with suspected broken ribs … as well as injuries sustained from the use of rubber bullets during the interception”.
Adalah also documented “severe degradation and sexual harassment and humiliation”.
Greens, Socialists call on government to do more
Greens Senator David Shoebridge criticised the government’s response as “performative”.
“The Australian government’s chief responsibility is to protect its citizens, and it is failing to do that right now,” he told Deepcut.
“The Israeli government feels like they can kidnap Australians because they never face consequences … Another statement about being deeply concerned will not move the dial for Israel. Penny Wong knows this,” he said.
Shoebridge said Labor “needs to look at what it has become and decide which side they want to be on – the side of brave Australians trying to bring food and water to starving people, or a rogue state like Israel”.
The Socialists were equally scathing of the government’s handling of the matter. Jordan van den Lamb said “this latest episode shows, once again, that there are no real red lines for the Labor Party when it comes to Israel”.
“Again and again, the Australian government has done nothing of substance to oppose [Israel’s conduct] - offering at most statements of ‘concern’, even when the abuses involve Australian citizens who it supposedly has a duty to protect,” he told Deepcut.
Listen to the latest episode of Deepthink, where Antoun Issa discusses his new book, Rebirth: A Love Story from the Depths of War, with Readings Books. The wide-ranging conversation delves into Beirut’s history, enduring Arab resistance, and interpreting Kahlil Gibran and the purpose of life.
DFAT for Wong: “shocking and unacceptable”. YvetteCooper “totally disgraceful scenes”, and so on.
Totally performative.
This is the work of a regime they support.
Sanctions needed now!