Six Australians who were detained by the Israeli military while attempting to transport aid to Gaza have been released in Crete after spending days at sea. The activists were part of a second Global Sumud Flotilla, involving over 700 people, which aimed to break the Israeli naval blockade. They were intercepted off the coast of the Greek island by the Israel Defence Forces on Wednesday and subsequently released on Crete.
Injuries and Hospitalisation
Organisers of the flotilla reported that three Australians—Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield, and Neve O'Connor—were taken to hospital for injuries sustained during the incident. The trio claimed they were subjected to violence and mistreatment aboard the Israeli vessel. In a video message from Sitia hospital in Crete, they stated, 'We three are all physically OK as you can be after that experience.'
Detainees and Hunger Strike
All 173 international activists were released except for two leaders: Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek from Spain, according to organisers. In response, Mr Floyd, Mr Schofield, and Ms O'Connor announced they would go on a hunger strike until the health and whereabouts of the remaining detainees were confirmed.
Israel's foreign affairs minister, Gideon Sa'ar, confirmed the interception but insisted that participants were unharmed. The vessels were seized in international waters off Greece's Peloponnese peninsula, hundreds of kilometres from Gaza, organisers said. The other Australian detainees include Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe, and Bianca Webb-Pullman, among 17 known Australians participating in the flotilla.
Legal and Diplomatic Reactions
Organisers condemned the IDF's actions as unlawful, occurring in international waters far from Gaza, labelling it 'piracy.' Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the two remaining detainees had been brought to Israel for questioning. 'Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation, and Thiago Ávila, suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning,' it said on X.
The Global Sumud Flotilla demanded that all governments pressure the Israeli regime to release all 'illegal abductees.' This incident follows a previous Sumud flotilla in October, during which seven Australians were detained by the IDF. Israel controls access to the Gaza Strip and denies withholding supplies for the region's two million residents.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed that consular officials in Crete were providing assistance to the Australians involved. 'We understand people want to respond to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but we continue to urge Australians not to join others seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade as they will be putting themselves and others at risk of injury, death, arrest or deportation,' it said in a statement. 'We encourage those wishing to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza to do so through established channels.'
