A snap demonstration is taking place at 6pm tonight, Thursday, 2 October, at Janelle Saffin’s office at 55 Carrington Street, Lismore after the Israel Defence Force (IDF) has detained six Australian humanitarian workers in international waters off the Gaza coastline.
The six Australian humanitarians, Byron Shire resident Surya McEwen, Abubakir Rafiq, Myocum resident Hamish Paterson, Northern Rivers documentary filmmaker Juliet Lamont, Bianca Webb-Pullman, and Dan Coward, have been detained approximately 70km from Gaza coastline.
They were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, the largest coordinated civilian flotilla in history that was attempting to deliver aid to citizens in Gaza.
‘The mission aims to break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea and open a humanitarian corridor to deliver desperately needed aid to Palestinians facing catastrophic conditions,’ said a press release on behalf of those detained.
‘We demand that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister of Foreign Affairs Penny Wong use all diplomatic and economic tools at their disposal to ensure all six Australians are released immediately. We also demand that Israel be reminded that under International Humanitarian Law Rule 31, Humanitarian relief personnel must be respected and protected.’
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