IDF accused of SA’ing Aussie flotilla member in detention

Eleven Australians, detained by Israeli forces for around 80 hours after participating in a flotilla carrying humanitarian aid towards Gaza, returned to Australian shores this morning.

Their treatment at the hands of their captors was described in a media release from supporters as violent and horrifying, with spokesperson Jane Salmon telling The Echo it featured alleged sexual assault for some, including Northern Rivers local Juliet Lamont.

Ms Salmon said Ms Lamont had described being forced to walk through a darkened shipping container-type structure where five masked men sexually assaulted her before she reemerged to join other captives outside at the other end of the container.

At least four Australian flotilla members experienced having their skin pierced with a hyper dermic needle and being injected with an undisclosed substance, Ms Salmon said, during their time as prisoner at sea.

Aussies suffer broken ribs and concussion in support of Palestine

The Israeli Defence Force used two ‘prison ships’ as part of their alleged abduction of 428 flotilla crew last week, she said, before taking them to Ashdod port and Ketziot Prison in the Naqab Desert.

‘Not all participants in the Australian group were kept together,’ this morning’s statement read, ‘nor were they treated in the same way’.

Two Australian participants, Surya McEwen, also from the Northern Rivers, and Sam Woripa Watson, were ‘badly beaten up’, Ms Salmon said.

Mr McEwan was still suffering concussion from an earlier detainment in Crete as part of the mission, she said, while she ‘couldn’t even hug Sam because his ribs were broken’.

Participant Neve O’Connor was also suffering a concussion, Ms Salmon said.

The group’s media release said some participants of other nationalities had been undergoing medical treatment for severe injuries, including surgeries.

Ms Salmon said the activists were denied water for two days during their detention and some were put on drips as part of their recovery in hospital.

Australian participants were to undergo immediate rest, treatment, and ‘expert medical care’ upon their return, supporters said.

Australian Border Force treated activists ‘like suspects’

Seven crew members, along with Australian ‘land crew’ participant, Luca Lamont, who helped provide logistical support for the flotilla from postings in Sicily, Turkey and Spain, were still in a Sydney hotel when Ms Salmon spoke with The Echo late Monday morning.

Around 120 supporters had greeted them at the Sydney International Airport earlier, she said, as well as several media teams with at least eight TV cameras.

Australian Border Force officials ‘treated them like suspects,’ she said, confiscating the returned Australian’s devices for scanning.

Another two flotilla participants, Gemma O’Toole and Violet Coco, had landed in Melbourne and since returned home, while member Helen O’Sullivan was back in Brisbane.

Israeli forces released the Australians, along with other flotilla members, after what supporters said was a global outcry over their treatment.

International condemnation of their treatment made headlines when Israel’s security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir shared a video to X showing activits bound and holding stress positions while masked IOF members kicked and dragged them.

Mr Ben-Gvir was accused of taunting the prisoners in the video.

Hundreds of activists were subsequently deported to Istanbul, supporters said, where they have been undergoing medical examinations, receiving treatment, and giving testimonies of their alleged abuse to lawyers.

‘This will be provided as evidence to the International Criminal Court in support of Palestinian victims of Israel,’ the statement read.

The IDF has since publicly stated denial of the accusations, while the Australian government told media none of the returned Australians had requested official assistance.