Australian says flotilla crews bashed by Israeli troops
An Australian member of the Gaza aid flotilla described how fellow activists were shot with rubber bullets, hit with rifle butts and beaten after Israeli soldiers boarded boats.
Zack Schofield was one of six Australians detained by the Israeli army while trying to deliver aid to Gaza.
They were among 175 flotilla participants detained by the Israel Defense Forces on Wednesday, out of about 700 en route to the Mediterranean.
Speaking to AAP from the Greek island of Crete on Saturday he said some people were shot at point-blank range with rubber bullets as soldiers boarded their boats in international waters.
“Some of us were kicked and punched while being processed on our own boats, many of which sank,” Mr Schofield said.
The detainees were transferred to an Israeli prison ship, which had containers on board to house them.
“We were dragged on the ground, forced to kneel with our heads on the ground, some of us were dragged by our hair,” Mr Schofield said.
Some were taken to a container and beaten with rifle butts, and one American was kicked in the testicles and hit in the head.
“We could hear the beatings.”
Mr Schofield said that at one point soldiers used force, advancing on the detainees and throwing flash grenades, one of which landed at their feet and exploded.
Those detained were transferred to the Greek Coast Guard and many had to go directly to hospital.
“Compared to what Palestinians go through in Israeli prisons… we got off lightly,” Mr. Schofield said.
“The Israelis were doing everything they could to create terror among us.”
Mr Schofield said squadron members were extremely concerned that two Palestinian leaders of the aid mission would be taken to Israel and possibly tortured.
“We demand that Australia break its alliance with Israel… because Israel continually breaks every international law in the book and commits violence against international citizens with absolute impunity.”
Activists took part in a second Global Sumud Flotilla that attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade.
Mr Schofield, along with Australians Ethan Floyd and Neve O’Connor, sent a video message from Sitia in Crete saying detainees were being harmed.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed the ships were stopped but insisted the participants were unharmed.
Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe and Bianca Webb-Pullman round out the six Australian detainees released among the 17 known to have joined the fleet.
Organizers claim that Israel’s actions were unlawful because they occurred in international waters far from Gaza.
“This is piracy,” the Global Sumud Fleet said in a statement.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said the remaining two detainees were brought to Israel for questioning.
“Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of having links to the terrorist organization, and Thiago Avila, suspected of illegal activities, will be brought to Israel for questioning,” it was stated in
“We demand that all governments do their best to pressure the Israeli regime to release those illegally abducted,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said.
Israel controls access to the Gaza Strip and refuses to stop supplies to the territory’s two million residents.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said consular officials in Crete were providing assistance to Australians as part of the flotilla.
“We understand people want to intervene in the humanitarian situation in Gaza, but we continue to urge Australians not to join others seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade as they would put themselves and others at risk of injury, death, arrest or deportation,” the statement said.
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