Family and lawyers have released a new statement regarding the kidnapping of eleven Australian humanitarian volunteers who were illegally intercepted by Israel in international waters west of Cyprus.
‘Their whereabouts and wellbeing are unknown,’ says the statement. ‘So far Israel has boarded over 38 boats of the flotilla, kidnapping an estimated 400 people from almost 50 countries, before sinking or destroying many of the boats, which carried a combined hundreds of tonnes of aid.
‘We have confirmed that Neve O’Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Anny Mokotow, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Gemma O’Toole, Violet Coco and Helen O’Sullivan are among the almost 400 activists kidnapped by Israel over the past 12 hours.
‘Among them are three Northern Rivers locals – Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont and Surya McEwen – who travelled to the Mediterranean as part of the humanitarian mission to deliver aid to the besieged people of Gaza.
For four of the eleven Australians, this is the second time in two weeks that they have been kidnapped and detained by Israel. Juliet Lamont, Dr Bianca Webb-Pulman and Surya McEwen also underwent imprisonment last October.
Leaders shirk responsibility
‘We have seen Palestinian women, children and men massacred, raped and tortured on our screens for years whilst our governments remained silent,’ said Surya McEwen.
‘It was our leaders’ moral duty, obligation and legal responsibility- one they have shirked- leaving us forced to take it up ourselves. When history looks back on this genocide, I did not want to be someone who did nothing. I would make the same choice again.’
Mr McEwen’s mother Jacinta McEwen said, ‘I’m on high alert and sitting by the phone. I hate this part where we don’t know where they are being taken, and where they are usually beaten up and shoved in shipping containers on the prison boat, and then doused with sea water so they’re freezing… and they pick on the ones that look like Surya.
‘Surya believed that silence in the face of genocide is complicity. He has always stood up for what is right – now I need the world to stand up for him and his comrades,’ she said.
Legal response
Greg Barns SC and Bernadette Zaydan, lawyers supporting some of the Australians involved in the flotilla, said ‘Israel has demonstrated a documented pattern of harm against civilian humanitarian workers.
‘It is necessary to highlight that Australia is a party to all core international human rights treaties, and accordingly carries binding obligations under international law. The passage of the Global Sumud Flotilla is lawful under International Humanitarian Law, including Rule 55 concerning access for humanitarian relief to civilians in need.’
Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Greens Deputy Leader said, ‘Israel is able to commit acts of piracy and kidnapping in international waters with complete impunity because countries like Australia refuse to stand up for their citizens. Israel attacked the humanitarian flotilla last month and predictably they have just done it again.
‘It is frightening how little the Australian government cares,’ she said.
‘Just a few months ago, the PM and Foreign Minister were wining and dining the President of the genocidal Israeli regime. They should have already picked up the phone to demand the release and safe passage of all Australians aboard the Flotilla, and they should leave no stone unturned. Instead, we have silence.’
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