Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla, Detains Six Australians Before Releasing Them in Crete

Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in international waters off Greece, detaining six Australians and releasing most of the roughly 175 activists on the Greek island of Crete after days at sea.

“- They are staging hunger strike in Crete to demand release of flotilla leaders - Troops beat activists ‘with the butts of their rifles and batons, and with their fists and their feet’ LONDON: Three Australians who took part in the Global Sumud flotilla have said they and their colleagues were mistreated while held for days on an Israeli vessel, The Guardian reported”

Arab News

The Greek City Times reported that “more than 170 international participants” had their vessels intercepted “in international waters off Greece earlier this week,” and said “two senior organisers remain in Israeli custody.”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation said the activists were part of “more than 100 people on the Global Sumud Flotilla” attempting to “break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza,” and that “Six Australians were among those released on the island of Crete.”

SBS Australia reported that “Eight Australians are thought to have sailed on the flotilla of approximately 58 vessels,” and that Israel had intercepted “a reported 22 of the boats in the Mediterranean.”

The BBC-style framing of the timeline also appeared in the reporting: the flotilla was intercepted “off the coast of Greece, near Crete,” and the six Australians were taken to hospital in Sitia “suffering cuts, bruises and a possible concussion.”

In the same reporting, Israeli officials insisted the operation was lawful and that participants were removed unharmed, with SBS quoting Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar describing the flotilla as “provocative.”

After the interception, three Australians said they were mistreated while held onboard an Israeli vessel and launched a hunger strike in Crete to demand the release of the flotilla’s leaders.

The Guardian reported that Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor and Zack Schofield “have launched a hunger strike in Crete, after being left there by Israeli authorities,” and said they were subjected to mistreatment while held “for two days onboard an Israeli vessel.”

Oz Arab Media

The Guardian described Schofield’s account in detail, quoting him saying, “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,” and adding, “I saw a man shot at point-blank range with a rubber bullet in the leg and in the back.”

Arab News similarly reported that the three Australians were “staging hunger strike in Crete to demand release of flotilla leaders,” and quoted Schofield alleging, “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.”

Arab News also said the trio alleged they refused Israeli food once detained, demanding the release of Thiago Avila and Saif Abu Keshek, who were taken to Israel for “questioning.”

Greek City Times said the six Australians were taken to hospital in Sitia “suffering cuts, bruises and a possible concussion,” and said the activists “alleged physical mistreatment by Israeli forces during detention.”

Meanwhile, Israeli officials maintained a different account, with Gideon Sa’ar insisting, “All participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed,” as quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

The reporting identified the six Australians detained and later released in Crete, while two leaders were taken to Israel for questioning.

“The activists were among more than 170 international participants whose vessels were intercepted in international waters off Greece earlier this week”

Greek City Times

SBS Australia listed the six Australians alleged to have been detained as “Zack Schofield, Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, Bianca Webb-Pullman, Surya McEwen and Cameron Tribe,” and said “Just two of the eight Australians aboard the flotilla vessels remain in contact.”

The Nightly said the six Australians detained by the IDF were released in Crete after days at sea and named “Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield and Neve O’Connor” as the trio taken to hospital, with “Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe and Bianca Webb-Pullman” rounding out the six.

The Nightly also said “All 173 international activists were released except for two leaders of the flotilla, Thiago Ávila from Brazil, and Saif Abu Keshek from Spain,” and called for their immediate release.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported that Israeli authorities released most of the 175 detained activists in Crete but took “two activists from Spain and Brazil to Israel for further questioning,” and quoted Sa’ar saying the detained crew members had not been injured.

The Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein was quoted by Australian Broadcasting Corporation saying “Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and Thiago Ávila suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning.”

In parallel, activists and flotilla organisers disputed Israel’s framing, with the Global Sumud Flotilla calling the detention of the two men illegal and asking international governments to pressure Israel for “their immediate release,” as reported by The Guardian.

Australian officials and families pressed for consular access and faster communication while politicians condemned the interception.

SBS Australia reported that DFAT said it would provide consular assistance in Crete and urged Australians not to join others seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade, quoting a DFAT spokesperson: “DFAT consular officials are in Crete to provide consular assistance to any Australians transferred there as part of the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla'.”

The Guardian

SBS also quoted DFAT saying it was “continuing to liaise with local authorities in Israel and Greece including to confirm the detention of any Australians.”

The same report described a family plea, with Marissa Floyd saying, “It has been more than 24 hours since I first made contact with DFAT and Dan Repacholi as my local member,” and adding, “I have not had one phone call, one text message, one email from anyone in the government informing me of what is happening to bring our citizens home.”

SBS quoted Bianca Webb-Pullman’s mother Julie at a Melbourne press conference saying, “Bianca is a doctor trying to ensure medical aid gets into Gaza — the Australian government must enable her and the flotilla's unobstructed passage through international waters to deliver it.”

SBS described “snap” rallies on Friday evening and Saturday in support of the flotilla and the Australians organisers described as being “held hostage,” and also referenced solidarity events including a planned paddle across Sydney Harbour on Sunday.

Politically, SBS reported that Greens leader Larissa Waters said the incident was “yet another shocking breach of international law by Israel,” and that “Foreign Minister Penny Wong must back the brave flotilla crew and fight for their release,” according to her post on social media.

The accounts of how many boats were intercepted and how the operation was characterized varied across outlets, even as they described the same core event.

“Almeno quattro Gli australiani tentano di rompere I 19 anni di Israele blocco terrestre e marittimo e consegnare aiuti a Gaza sono stati intercettati da Israele in acque internazionali, a ovest dell’isola greca di Creta”

Porta da Estrela

SBS Australia said Israel intercepted “a reported 22 of the boats in the Mediterranean,” while also stating that “Israel, which has blockaded the Palestinian territory since 2007,” had “intercepted a reported 22 of the boats” and that “Six Australians have been detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).”

The Nightly

The Guardian reported that “Twenty-two vessels were intercepted off the coast of Crete on Wednesday evening,” and said the flotilla “left Italy on Monday,” while also quoting Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar on X.

Greek City Times said the activists were among “more than 170 international participants” and that “two senior organisers remain in Israeli custody,” and it described the operation as Israel’s “legal and necessary to uphold the naval blockade on Gaza,” calling the flotilla a “provocative ‘PR stunt’.”

The Nightly said “All 173 international activists were released except for two leaders,” while Arab News said “Of the roughly 175 activists taking part in the flotilla, 31 were taken to Sitia hospital in Crete.”

Porta da Estrela, in Italian, reported that “Almeno quattro” Australians were intercepted near Crete and described Ethan Floyd being boarded “intorno alle 8.30 di giovedì (AEST)” after a “nave da guerra” launched a tactical rubber boat.

Across the reporting, Israel’s position stayed consistent in language about legality and blockade enforcement, while organisers used terms like “piracy” and “kidnapped” to describe the same actions.

The next phase of the standoff centers on the two flotilla leaders in Israeli custody and the continued pressure for their release, while consular officials remain in Crete to assist Australians.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation said consular officials are “in Crete to provide assistance” and are working to “confirm the detention of any Australians,” and it described that “two activists from Spain and Brazil” were taken to Israel for further questioning.

The Guardian reported that the hunger-striking Australians said they would not take food from the Israelis “until the Israeli authorities released two of the flotilla leaders, Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek from Spain,” and it quoted Sa’ar’s claim that the two men would be brought to Israel for questioning.

Arab News said the three Australians were “staging hunger strike in Crete to demand release of flotilla leaders,” and it noted that Spain demanded the immediate release of Saif Abu Keshek.

SBS Australia said DFAT was “continuing to liaise with local authorities in Israel and Greece including to confirm the detention of any Australians,” and it quoted a spokesperson saying “We are also continuing to liaise with local authorities in Israel and Greece including to confirm the detention of any Australians.”

Greek City Times said “Diplomatic efforts continue regarding the two activists still held in Israel,” and it described solidarity events in Australia, including a planned paddle across Sydney Harbour on Sunday.

The Nightly added that organisers called for immediate release and quoted the Global Sumud Flotilla demanding “all governments do all they can to pressure the Israeli regime to release all the illegal abductees.”