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’. 

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.

Australian humanitarian workers – Surya McEwen, Abubakir Rafiq, Hamish Paterson, Juliet Lamont, Bianca Webb-Pullman, and Cameron Tribe – remain in Israeli detention following their illegal abduction in international waters, where they have been subjected to systematic abuse and denied fundamental human rights.

Surya McEwen has volunteered on Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s voyage to take 5,500 tonnes of food and medicine to the Palestinian people, in one of the most dangerous war-torn parts of the planet.