In a media statement from the Global Sumud Flotilla, they say ‘The eleven Australian citizens who were illegally abducted by Israel on Monday evening as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla aid mission to Gaza are expected to be released shortly’.
A number of those Australians also include north coast residents Surya McEwen and Juliet and Isla Lamont.
The Global Sumud Flotilla media team say, ‘They are currently being transported on buses to Umm Al Rashrash Airport (so-called Eilat/Ramon Airport) where they will reportedly board flights for Istanbul’.
‘Families of the Australians detained by Israel have heard from DFAT that consular officials will try to speak to the Australian citizens at Umm Al Rashrash/Ramon Airport, but it is unclear if Israeli officials will allow this.
‘Their release comes after more than three days in Israeli detention, following videos posted online by Israel’s far right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing shocking mistreatment and abuse of activists’.
The SMH reported that here: https://www.smh.com.au/world/middle-east/netanyahu-scolds-hardline-minister-for-releasing-videos-taunting-detained-flotilla-activists-20260521-p5zza5.html
In the video, dozens of men and women are seen kneeling in rows, with their foreheads to the ground and their hands zip-tied behind their backs. Ben-Gvir waved an Israeli flag and shouted ‘Welcome to Israel, we are the landlords. I tell prime minister Netanhyahu give them to me for much more time. Give them to us for the terrorists’ prisons,’ the minister said.
Global Sumud Flotilla media continued, ‘Their kidnappings began around 5.30pm AEST (10.30am Palestine time) Monday 18 May, and at the time of writing, no one, including family members, consular officials or Australian lawyers, has had any direct contact with any Australians.
‘The 11 Australians are: Neve O’Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Anny Mokotow, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, Dr Bianca Pullman-Webb, Gemma O’Toole, Violet Coco andHelen O’Sullivan.
Families respond
Jacinta McEwen, Surya McEwen’s mother said, ‘We are overcome with relief that our kids are coming home. But we are so angry that the reason our kids sailed in the first place is because of the failure of FM Penny Wong and PM Anthony Albanese to show a spine as they watched children be murdered and starved to death. What else were they expected to do to maintain our humanity when our leaders have lost theirs? We demand the government step up and do their jobs so the next lot of kids don’t have to sail again in 6 months’ time.’
Joanne Jaworowski, Zack Schofield’s mother said,‘While I am relieved to hear the news that my son Zack and all 11 Australians are being released, we still do not have any information about Zack’s welfare. It is almost unbearable for me to think about what he has gone through over the more than three days at the hands of the brutal Israeli forces, and I shudder to think about the even worse treatment that the 11,000 Palestinian prisoners suffer every single day.
‘My heart will not be calm until I have heard directly from Zack, that he is safe and unharmed. I am very angry that the Australian government is yet to unequivocally condemn Israel for illegally kidnapping Australian citizens in international waters.
‘These 11 brave humanitarian volunteers went on this mission to attempt to deliver life-saving aid to the people of Palestine. The fact is that a country that Australia calls an ally prevented that aid from being delivered. Zack and the other Australians would never have needed to go on this mission if the Australian government was doing their job, and if they were doing all that they can to end the genocide in Palestine and help let aid flow.”
Subhi Awad, Palestinian-Australian Global Sumud Flotilla media team said, ‘The world has now seen with their own eyes what Israel does to unarmed people delivering food. Ben Gvir filmed himself doing it. He thought it was something to be proud of. Imagine what they do to Palestinians every day off camera’.
‘We’re relieved our people are being released, but the reason they went hasn’t changed – children in Gaza are still being killed and starved. Let’s not forget that this government calls Israel a friend and sends them weapons subsidised with our taxes. Australians don’t want to be mates with genocidal states and we call for sanctions on Israel.’
Flotilla members statement
- Condemn Israel for preventing life-saving aid from reaching Gaza
- Immediately impose economic and political sanctions on Israel
- Stop sending weapons to Israel including all parts, components and dual-use items’.
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