Concerns are growing for six Australian activists, including a young Indigenous man, detained after Israeli naval forces intercepted the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla on Thursday morning, with protestors gathering at Sydney Town Hall to demand urgent action from the Australian Government.
Less than a month after the Global Sumud Flotilla departed for the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid, the organisation reported that Israeli naval forces intercepted 22 boats in the convoy, including 19 confirmed boats and three assumed.
According to the Flotilla's live tracker, the fleet was intercepted in international waters near the Greek island of Crete — over 1000 kilometres from Gaza, one of the furthest points from the territory at which an interception has occurred.
At around 5:30 AM (AEST), 22-year-old Ethan Floyd, a Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa and Wailwan man and University of Sydney student activist, shared his concerns on social media about an early interception "by Israeli forces, or forces allied with Israel."
"We are reporting heavy drone presence and a heavy presence of military vessels in the Mediterranean, circling our fleet, interfering with our communications," Mr Floyd said.
"Our radios and cameras have all been jammed. We are communicating very ad hoc, and our ability to speak with other boats in our fleet is highly interfered with.
"We are a non-violent, civilian, peaceful humanitarian mission. Our destination is Gaza, and our cargo is humanity."
Three hours later, the Flotilla's social media reported "INTERCEPTION HAPPENING NOW", alongside a video appearing to show Israeli soldiers boarding the vessel.
Mr Floyd was confirmed as the first Australian to be detained and is seen in the footage holding his hands above his head. Five more Australians aboard separate vessels would follow, including Surya McEwen, Dr Bianca Pullman Webb, Neve O'Connor, Zack Schofield, and Cameron Tribe.
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In an additional statement posted online, the organisation alleged Israeli forces had "intercepted, boarded, and systematically disabled" several boats in the convoy.
"After smashing engines and destroying navigation arrays, the military retreated—intentionally leaving hundreds of civilians stranded on powerless, broken vessels directly in the path of a massive approaching storm," the caption read.
"Furthermore, communications with multiple vessels have been jammed, severing their ability to coordinate or signal for help."
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Following the reports, activist groups Students for Palestine, Global Movement to Gaza, Rising Tide Climate Defence, Palestine Action Group Sydney and The Greens held a snap rally at Sydney's Town Hall on Thursday night.
Speaking at the rally, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi condemned the interceptions and urged immediate action to secure the activists' release.
"Let's be clear about what is happening today in international waters: piracy is happening, illegal abduction is happening, the taking of hostages is happening," she said.
"The brave people on the flotilla are putting their safety in jeopardy," she continued. "They are putting their lives at risk because their government, our government, won't lift a finger to do anything, not a finger to stop the genocide, not a finger to break the siege that has been going on for 19 years."
"The Albanese government, let's be crystal clear, is complicit in this genocide...They cannot get away from that."
Protest organisers issued three demands to Foreign Minister Penny Wong and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: an unequivocal condemnation of Israel's actions as a violation of international law, immediate consular assistance from the Australian Government to aid the release of those detained, and urgent communication with the Greek government to ensure safe passage.
The protest concluded with a march to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade building, with attendees chanting "Sydney supports the flotilla" and "Free the activists, free Palestine".
