Australian citizens on the Global Sumud flotilla say they were abused and mistreated after Israeli forces intercepted the vessel and detained activists while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. In accounts reported from Turkey, activist Zack Schofield describes seeing fellow activist Bianca Webb-Pullman, an Australian doctor, and others subjected to what he says was physical violence during processing after an Israeli minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, posted a video of detainees. The activists allege their hands were zip-tied, that they were handled roughly and put into stress positions after being transferred to a prison boat or similar holding area, and that they were dragged off and taken to detention facilities. Israel maintains it intervenes to stop attempts to break the blockade and said the flotilla interception was justified. However, multiple sources report criticism of Ben-Gvir’s conduct, including reactions within Israel and comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who defended the interception but said Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists was not consistent with Israel’s values and norms. The detained Australians were deported to Turkey, where they recount their treatment.
Australian activists allege mistreatment after Israel intercepts Gaza flotilla
Australian citizens on the Global Sumud flotilla say they were abused and mistreated after Israeli forces intercepted the vessel and detained activists while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. In acco...
- Australian activists on the Global Sumud flotilla say Israeli forces detained them after the flotilla attempt to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
- The activists allege they were physically mistreated after detention, including zip-tied hands and being forced into stress positions.
- Itamar Ben-Gvir posted or shared video footage showing detained activists; his actions drew widespread criticism and diplomatic backlash.
- Israeli officials defend the interception as justified, while Netanyahu is reported to criticize Ben-Gvir’s conduct as not in line with Israeli norms.
- The Australian detainees were deported from Israel to Turkey, where they gave accounts of what they described as abuse.
Activists from the Global Sumud flotilla, which was attempting to break Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, recounted the violence they allegedly faced after being detained by Israel. Bianca Webb-Pullman, an Australian doctor, said activists were handled roughly after being transferred to what she described as a prison boat before being dragged off the vessel at the port and forced into stress positions. Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sparked widespread condemnation and diplomatic backlash on Wednesday by posting a video showing the detained activists with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground as he taunted them. The incident also prompted criticism within Israel and from the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who defended the interception of the flotilla but said Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists was 'not in line with Israel’s values and norms'Eleven Australian Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel deported to TurkeyPenny Wong condemns Israeli minister over ‘shocking and unacceptable’ treatment of flotilla activists Continue reading...
3 months ago‘Every activist on the flotilla … has only had their heart more emboldened by witnessing and experiencing the brutality of the Israeli state,’ Zack Schofield saysFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAustralian Zack Schofield watched, powerless, as Israeli soldiers beat his fellow flotilla activist, an Irish woman, to the ground after she was filmed shouting “free Palestine” at Israel’s national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir.“Her hands [and] feet were zip-tied together, and then she was dragged around the rest of the processing centre, before she was taken into a prison bus,” Schofield says from Istanbul after the activists were deported from Israel. Continue reading...
3 months ago
Nepal flash floods leave hundreds missing, including Indians and other foreign nationals
Flash floods triggered along Nepal’s Tibet border kill hundreds and leave large numbers of people unaccounted for, with...
Reports of unusual side effects after Viagra use prompt health warnings
Several reports describe people experiencing unusual effects after taking Viagra, including hearing problems (such as go...
Hundreds of foreign nationals reported missing after Nepal–Tibet floods
Deadly flash floods strike the Nepal–Tibet border region, with hundreds of people reported missing and many believed to...