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.

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.

On Thursday, 14 May 11 Australians departed Türkiye on a mission to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and break Israel's illegal naval blockade as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF).

Around thirty protesters, including members of Northern Rivers For Palestine, said this morning they’d occupied the electorate office of Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers.

Nearly 60 boats have crossed international waters from multiple ports to gather in Turkey as part of a fleet sailing trying to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza. 

Crews aboard Global Sumud Flotilla, who are part of unarmed crews with critical humanitarian aid bound for Gaza, say Israeli naval forces boarded their ships on 1 May and threatened them at gunpoint.

Activists from new group Defend Peace Djilang locked on at Defence Minister Richard Marles’ electoral office in Geelong this morning, demanding the minister stop approving export permits of F35 parts to Israel.

Climate justice activists, First Nations participants, an ‘anti-zionist Jewish activist’, writer Clem Ford and at least two Northern Rivers representatives were included in Aussie crew announced as part of a mission to Gaza next month.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is due to arrive in Australia today, invited by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to meet bereaved members of Sydney's Jewish community, despite being the official representative of a genocidal state.

Before Chris Hedges could even deliver his speech on the silencing and betrayal of Palestinian journalists, the National Press Club of Australia cancelled the Pulitzer Prize-winning war correspondent's invitation. Last week he delivered the speech anyway, at an event in Sydney.