Australian Madeleine Habib released from Israeli jail after aid flotilla intercepted en route to Gaza | Gaza
Australian woman Madeleine Habib has been released from Israeli prison, four days after a ship she captained as part of another aid flotilla heading to Gaza was stopped by the Israeli army in international waters.
A source close to Habib said he was released along with other activists in the freedom flotilla on Sunday morning Israeli time and taken to the Jordanian border.
Habib became the eighth Australian traveling with the humanitarian flotilla to be detained and subsequently released by Israeli authorities.
The veteran sailor and long-time humanitarian activist was arrested on October 8 and detained in Israel’s Ketziot prison for allegedly “trying to illegally break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.”
Australian consular officials who visited Habib in prison the next day were told that Habib could remain in Israel “indefinitely” unless he agreed to sign the waiver. Habib refused to sign the document.
Guardian Australia understands the detainees required immunity to admit they were illegally trying to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
It was not known Sunday whether Habib had signed the waiver before his release. Sources said at least one fleet member who had not previously signed the agreement was released.
Habib had previously told visiting Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) officials that he “experienced humiliation but was not physically abused” in detention.
Habib said he was allowed to see his lawyer but only ate “stale bread” and drank “brown” tap water.
The high-security prison where he is held in the Negev Desert is known for detaining Palestinian security prisoners, many of whom Israel accuses of participating in militant or terrorist activities.
Earlier on Sunday, a Dfat spokesman said the treatment and welfare of Australians detained in Israel had been improved, along with Israeli officials in Tel Aviv and Canberra.
“We understand that people want to help deliver aid to those suffering in Gaza – we also want to see critical aid delivered,” the spokesman said.
“For some time, we have warned against attempts to breach the naval blockade and strongly advised Australians not to do so due to the risks to their security. We reiterate our call for Israel to ensure the continuous, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
Habib’s ship, Vicdan, set sail from Italy for Gaza in early October, reportedly carrying around 100 volunteers, including medics and journalists, as well as vital aid supplies. It was seized days before the announcement of the ceasefire agreement brokered by Donald Trump.
Conscience was part of a fleet of nine ships, all of which were stopped early Wednesday morning.
Tens of thousands of Australians marched in pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country on Sunday. In Sydney, organizers suggested they would continue the march until aid agencies were allowed into Gaza and the strip was rebuilt.
Surya McEwen, a passenger on the previously captured Sumud flotilla who arrived in Australia on Friday after being detained by Israel, said flotilla activists would try to deliver aid by sea “as long as there is a situation where there is a brutal and illegal blockade of Gaza.”
Guardian Australia has sought comment from the Israeli embassy in Australia and the Israeli government regarding Habib’s detention and release.
