Six Australians detained by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have been released on the Greek island of Crete after several days at sea.
The group, including Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield and Neve O’Connor, were among more than 100 activists involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to break Israel’s naval blockade.
They were intercepted by the Israel Defence Forces in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula on Wednesday. Organisers said three Australians were hospitalised in Crete following their release.
“We three are all physically OK as you can be after that experience,” Floyd, Schofield and O’Connor said in a video message from Sitia hospital.
The remaining Australian detainees were identified as Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe and Bianca Webb-Pullman. In total, 173 international activists were released, except flotilla leaders Thiago Ávila of Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek of Spain, who were taken to Israel for questioning.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said those detained were unharmed. “All participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed,” he said.
However, activists alleged mistreatment. Schofield claimed crew members endured a “violent and distressing ordeal”, saying: “All of my crew were placed in stress positions and forced to walk with our heads down; we were grabbed by our hair and moved around the ship.”
He also alleged, “I witnessed violence perpetrated against many of my friends,” including people being beaten and shot with rubber bullets.
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected the claims, stating: “At no point were the passengers mistreated, and all use of force was in direct response to violence and physical resistance on the part of the rioters.”
Flotilla organisers condemned the interception as unlawful. “This is piracy,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said, describing it as “the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete.”
Schofield said he intended to continue the mission to Gaza, stating: “We are trying to get food and medicine to Gaza. We are not trying to seek attention, we are trying to provide material support.”
Source: ABC.
