Three Australian activists who were part of a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have alleged mistreatment by Israeli forces after their ships were intercepted. Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, and Zack Schofield were among six Australians released following the interception on Wednesday. They claim they and their colleagues were subjected to violence while held for two days on an Israeli vessel.
Greek officials reported that 31 of the roughly 175 activists from the flotilla were taken to a hospital on Crete. Schofield said the three Australians have since been discharged from Sitia hospital but remain on the island. The flotilla, known as the Global Sumud flotilla, left Italy on Monday and consisted of 22 vessels that were intercepted off the coast of Crete on Wednesday evening.
Speaking to Guardian Australia after his release, Schofield described the Israeli transport ship as having been retrofitted as a prison, with the main deck dominated by shipping containers surrounded by barbed wire. He alleged that protesters were subjected to violence by Israeli forces, contradicting claims from Israel’s foreign minister that they were “taken off unharmed.”
“They took people into the fourth shipping container and beat them with the butts of their rifles and batons, and with their fists and their feet,” Schofield said. He added that he saw a man shot at point-blank range with a rubber bullet in the leg and back, and that a friend was dragged into the container and repeatedly kicked in the testicles. Schofield also alleged witnessing a young Colombian woman being repeatedly punched in the ribs by an IDF soldier.
Guardian Australia has not independently verified these allegations. Schofield described his own treatment as “mild violence,” including flash-bang grenades thrown at his feet and being forced into stress positions with his head slammed against the ground. He said crowded conditions forced about a quarter of detainees to sleep outside, and they were flooded twice when Israeli soldiers pumped sea water over the deck.
The Guardian has sought comment from the IDF and the Israeli embassy in Australia. Schofield, Floyd, and O’Connor announced via video that they have launched a hunger strike, refusing food from the Israelis “as they continued their starvation of the Palestinian people,” and until two flotilla leaders, Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek from Spain, are released.
Israel’s foreign affairs ministry confirmed that Ávila and Abu Keshek would be transported to Israel for questioning, describing the flotilla as a “Hamas-led provocation.” Flotilla organizers called the detention illegal and urged international governments to pressure Israel for their release. Several European governments have condemned Israel’s action as a flagrant contravention of international law, with Spain demanding the immediate release of Keshek.
Three other Australians—Bianca Webb-Pullman, Surya McEwen, and Cameron Tribe—were also released. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed consular staff are on Crete to provide assistance. A DFAT spokesperson urged Australians not to join efforts to break the Israeli naval blockade, warning of risks of injury, death, arrest, or deportation. Supporters in Australia are planning a paddle-out event on Sydney Harbour on Sunday to show solidarity with the flotilla.
