Australians decry abuse by Israel after it intercepted Gaza flotilla

TEL AVIV, Israel (MNTV) — Three Australian activists released from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla decry severe mistreatment by Israeli forces during their arrests, describing violent abuse, degrading conditions and violations of basic human rights following the vessel’s hijacking in international waters.

According to Arab News, Zack Schofield, Neve O’Connor and Ethan Floyd said they were held for days aboard what they described as a repurposed prison ship after Israeli naval forces seized the Global Sumud flotilla earlier this week. 

The convoy had been attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza amid ongoing restrictions widely criticized by international organizations.

According to testimonies shared with media outlets, detainees were confined in shipping containers surrounded by barbed wire, with limited space and poor conditions. 

Schofield alleged that Israeli soldiers subjected activists to physical violence, including beatings with rifle butts, batons, and repeated kicking.

“They dragged people into containers and assaulted them,” he said, adding that one individual was shot at close range with a rubber bullet, while others were struck repeatedly across the body.

The accounts also describe the use of flash-bang grenades in confined spaces and the imposition of stress positions, with detainees reportedly forced to kneel for prolonged periods while being physically restrained. 

Schofield said he witnessed a female activist being punched repeatedly, while others were subjected to humiliation and intimidation.

The group said they were held in overcrowded conditions for two days, during which Israeli forces allegedly sprayed seawater across the deck where detainees were confined. 

Food provided by Israeli authorities was refused by several activists, who demanded the release of flotilla leaders detained separately.

Following their release, the Australians were left on the Greek island of Crete, where they have begun a hunger strike to protest the continued detention of key organizers, including Brazilian activist Thiago Avila and Spanish national Saif Abu Keshek.

Israeli officials have claimed that those intercepted were treated without harm, a statement strongly rejected by the activists, who described a pattern of systematic abuse and coercion.

The interception itself has drawn sharp criticism, with legal experts and rights groups arguing that Israel’s actions in international waters may constitute a violation of maritime law. 

The flotilla was seized hundreds of miles from Gaza, raising further concerns about jurisdiction and the use of force against civilian missions.

Organizers say the operation reflects an increasingly aggressive enforcement of Israel’s blockade on Gaza, extending beyond territorial waters and targeting humanitarian initiatives attempting to highlight the worsening conditions inside the enclave.

Governments and advocacy groups have called for the immediate release of remaining detainees and an independent investigation into the treatment of those held. 

Spain has demanded the release of its citizen, while Australian officials confirmed consular support for their nationals in Greece.

The incident has intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s handling of Gaza-related humanitarian efforts, with critics arguing that such actions not only obstruct aid delivery but also undermine international legal norms governing civilian protection.

Supporters of the flotilla have announced solidarity demonstrations, including an event planned in Sydney, as pressure mounts on governments to respond more forcefully to what activists describe as unlawful and violent conduct by Israeli forces.