- by MB
- The Guardian
- Issue #2194
Australian survivors detained after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla in solidarity with the Palestinians, say their ordeal extended beyond detention by Israel, alleging violence at the airport before departure and intrusive treatment upon their return to Australia. Participants are calling for answers and accountability regarding their treatment both overseas and at home.
Participants allege they were subjected to serious mistreatment by Israeli authorities while in detention following their attempt to deliver humanitarian aid, including food, medicine, and baby formula to civilians in Gaza.
Participants have previously described beatings, sexual violence, physical abuse, and psychological abuse by Israeli authorities during their detention.
The testimonies form part of evidence being compiled by lawyers, medical professionals and human rights advocates regarding the treatment of flotilla participants.
Australian participant Neve O’Connor says the violence continued when participants arrived at the airport. “Just when we thought we were safe, the beatings started again,” O’Connor said. “After everything we had already been through, the last place we expected violence was at the airport.”
Participants say they were prevented from speaking with consular representatives and were physically assaulted from the airport entrance to the stairs of their departing aircraft.
“Before I could speak to Australian representatives, I was grabbed and dragged away from the airport entrance to the stairs of the aircraft, we were beaten, kicked and shoved.”
O’Connor says she witnessed punches and elbows to the backs of people’s heads, repeated shoving, hair-pulling, trips and kicks. She also reported seeing one woman thrown into a wall with enough force to split her elbow open.
She further alleged that she was thrown into an airport door and later stomped on after being tripped while participants were being moved towards their flight and that she was stomped on at the very steps of the Turkish Airlines aircraft even after participants were beaten from the airport entrance across the tarmac, “I fell and several men stomped on me while I was on the ground.”
“This is how Israel said goodbye to people whose only crime was trying to deliver food, medicine, and baby formula to starving civilians.”
Participants say that abuse was carried out by every level of authority they encountered, including soldiers, immigration officers, police, prison guards, and airport authorities.
They say the consistency of the violence across multiple agencies demonstrates that the mistreatment was not isolated, but reflected a broader pattern of conduct throughout their detention and deportation process by Israel.
Participants question how Australian consular officials could have failed to hear their screams during the transfer and are seeking clarification regarding public statements that they were not harmed.
Participants say the ordeal continued after they landed in Australia with several reporting being detained, searched, having their phones taken and being directed to provide passwords under threat of jail by Australian officials upon their return.
Participants are seeking an explanation for why those measures were applied.
“After everything that happened overseas, to be treated like terrorists [in Australia] was shocking,” said Juliet Lamont, another flotilla participant.
“Australians deserve answers about what happened when survivors came home. Serious questions remain about the treatment of Australians both overseas and upon their return.”
The Global Sumud Flotilla continues to call for accountability, justice for survivors, and a meeting between Australian participants and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is a non-violent aid organisation with participants from over 90 countries.
