Aus to Albo: Show Spine Or Resign VIDEO showing brutal treatment of Global Sumud Flotilla hostages in Ashdod, Israel

 

Media Release 21.5.26 

 

Head of the Australian Delegation of the Global Sumud Flotilla calls on the Prime Minister to Join International Condemnation of the Abuse of Flotilla Participants Taken Hostage by Israel.

 

Simon Jones said that Albanese’s silence is extraordinary in the light of reaction by the governments of European allies, the UK and countries around the world.

 

“The Israeli ambassador to Canberra should be summoned or sent home,” said Jones. Wong's "conveyed criticism" is not enough. 

 

The depraved glee displayed by Ben Gvir in his vast black shirt during his self recorded festival of malice is shocking. That his minions (also in black) comply with this psychologically warped exercise is damning of Israel. 

 

We are deeply concerned for all 428 participants, the 11 courageous Australian friends and their families. 

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 hundreds of activists kidnapped by Israel since Monday.

 

Ben Gvir has called for prolonged imprisonment of flotilla members.

 

“Our reaction to watching healthy, bright, brave, peaceful humanitarians being harmed in real time pales beside our concern for what occurs off camera,” Jones said.  

 

During the last Global Sumud Flotilla mission, humanitarian volunteers reported severe mistreatment, including the deprivation of medicine and medical care, routine humiliation and degradation, physical violence, torture techniques, sexual assault, and cruel and unusual punishment. 

 

 

The hostages may be taken to Ktzi’ot, one of Israel’s most notorious torture prisons, located approximately 140km south of Ashdod.

 

Subhi Awad, Palestinian-Australian and Global Sumud Flotilla Australian spokesperson :

“Ktzi’ot prison is where it has been repeatedly reported that Palestinians are routinely tortured and raped to death. We demand our Australian government not only step in and show some responsibility for our citizens but also enact their moral and legal obligation to stand up for human rights for the Palestinians being killed in the prison cells next to them.”

 

DFAT have yet to connect with Australian flotilla participants. 

 

This Israeli own goal underscores global grief for Palestinians experiencing the full extent of Israeli cruelty across the decades since 1946. Nakba has never ceased. 

 

Lawyers agree that Israeli interception and kidnapping practices in international waters violate the Law of the Sea. Abandoning boats mid-ocean is an act of environmental vandalism, endangering other shipping. 

 

Israel’s denial and destruction of many tonnes of crowd-funded essential medical aid and food also affects every individual Sumud supporter.  The needless Israel-curated suffering from supply shortages during their blockade of Palestine has drawn the comment of  international aid agencies and the UN. 

 

“The Flotilla did obtain, load and carry aid. We recorded ourselves doing so. Israel denies concrete fact”. 

 

“The Australian Government must disconnect from Israel”, said the Australia Head of Delegation.  “We cannot remain enmeshed with systematic human rights abusers of any stripe”.

 

A vigil was held at Kirribilli House yesterday. 

 

A key member of our team, Palestinian Subhi Awad, was arrested yesterday for peacefully blocking the gates of a Brisbane factory where weapons bound for Israel are manufactured.

 

Below is the report from Adalah after their visit with detained participants today. 

*Adalah Update: Lawyers Provided Counsel to Hundreds of Detained Flotilla Participants who Reported Extreme Violence, Sexual Humiliation, and Severe Injuries by Israeli forces*

Adalah attorneys, together with a team of volunteer lawyers, have just left Ashdod Port (Wednesday evening 20 May) after providing legal consultation to hundreds of unlawfully detained flotilla participants. Due to the severe access restrictions, the lawyers were not able to see all of the detained participants. Adalah can confirm that all of those detained have now passed through the Israeli immigration initial processing stage and almost all are being transferred to Ktziot prison. The legal team reports systemic violations of due process, and widespread physical and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities against the activists.

Our team received a large number of complaints of extreme violence, revealing a new pattern of physical abuse deliberately used by Israeli authorities. This violence resulted in severe, widespread injuries, including at least three individuals who were hospitalised and subsequently released. The lawyers documented dozens of participants with suspected broken ribs and resulting difficulty in breathing. Reports also indicated the frequent use of Tasers against participants, as well as injuries sustained from the use of rubber bullets during the interception of the flotilla boats and on the military boat to which they were transferred. The detained activists were subjected to extreme violence both on the vessels and during the transfer time between the boats and the port. Furthermore, authorities forced the activists into stress positions; while being moved around the port, they were forced to walk bent completely forward while guards violently held their backs down. Participants were also forced to sit onto their knees inside the boat for prolonged periods of time.

In addition to this physical abuse, the participants were subjected to  severe degradation and sexual harassment and humiliation. Further, several women participants had their hijabs ripped off by Israeli authorities. 

Adalah continues to monitor the situation closely. The participants will be brought tomorrow to appear before a tribunal pending their deportation. Adalah will demand to be present at these hearings to provide them with legal representation. Adalah persists in our demand for the immediate, unconditional release of all flotilla participants, currently held unlawfully.

Footage and photos of the interception, statements from those being held hostage, and a full list of participants and their bios can be found here.

 

Copy of Gvir Ashdod Abuse Video: