‘My son could be dying’

“The Australian government has a duty to protect its citizens; they are failing us.”

The Israeli foreign ministry had said the flotilla was previously warned that it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a “lawful naval blockade”, and asked organisers to change course.

Donald Rothwell — an international law professor from the Australian National University — wrote in a recent article in The Conversation that Israel’s claim of the blockade’s legality was “contentious”.

Israel ‘keen to end this procedure’

“Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible”, the ministry said in a social media post, adding all the flotilla participants were “safe and in good health”.

The Israeli military did not respond to requests for comment in early September and has not yet responded to the recent allegations.

Flotilla interception triggers protests

In Florence, protesters approached the gates of the Italian national soccer team’s training centre to demand its upcoming World Cup qualifier against Israel not be played because of the war in Gaza.

Italy’s right-wing government has criticised the strike, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting the strike was just an excuse to have a longer weekend break. Source: AAP / Salvatore Laporta / KONTROLAB / ipa-agency.net / Sipa USA

Demonstrations also took place in Spain, with protesters gathering outside the country’s foreign ministry.