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In a development marking the end of a tense maritime episode, six Australians who were apprehended by the Israeli military while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have been freed after spending several days at sea. These individuals were part of an over one hundred-strong contingent participating in the second Global Sumud Flotilla, an ongoing campaign by activist groups aiming to challenge the longstanding Israeli naval blockade of Gaza.
The release took place on the Greek island of Crete after the flotilla was intercepted by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) off its coast on a recent Wednesday. This interception is part of a series of similar actions as activists continue their efforts to draw attention to the situation in Gaza through such flotillas.
Among those released, three Australians—Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield, and Neve O’Connor—required medical attention following their return. They reported being injured and alleged that they experienced violence and mistreatment while detained aboard the Israeli military vessel.
Flotilla organisers said three Australians — Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield and Neve O’Connor — were taken to hospital for injuries after being released.
The three Australians say they were subjected to violence and mistreated while on board the Israeli vessel.
“We three are all physically okay as you can be after that experience,” the trio said in a video message from Sitia hospital in Crete.
Organisers said all 173 international activists were released except for two leaders of the flotilla: Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek from Spain.
Floyd, Schofield and O’Connor said they would go on hunger strike until the health and whereabouts of the remaining detainees was confirmed.
Images posted by the Global Sumud Flotilla on X appear to show wounds inflicted on the activists, including bruising and gashes.
Israeli foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed the vessels had been intercepted but insisted participants were unharmed.
“All participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed,” he said on X.
The vessels were seized in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, hundreds of kilometres from Gaza, organisers said.
Organisers claim the IDF’s actions were unlawful as they occurred in international waters far from Gaza.
“This is piracy,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement.
“This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences.”
Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said this week that “early action” was both necessary and legal under international law due to “the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade”.
The ministry later confirmed 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.
“We demand that all governments do all they can to pressure the Israeli regime to release all the illegal abductees,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said.
Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe and Bianca Webb-Pullman round out the six Australian detainees, among around 17 known to have been participating in the flotilla.
Seven Australians were detained by the IDF during the previous Sumud flotilla in October.
Israel controls access to the Gaza Strip and denies withholding supplies for its two million residents, with Israel’s main aid coordination agency regularly pointing to increased access via authorised pathways into the enclave since last October’s ceasefire.
However, numerous Palestinian and international aid bodies — including Doctors Without Borders and the Red Crescent Society — say humanitarian supplies to the territory remain insufficient.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has been contacted, has previously urged Australians not to participate in breaches of Israel’s blockade.
Sydneysiders are set to paddle across Sydney Harbour on Sunday to show support for the flotilla.
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