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At least five Australians reportedly detained while carrying aid to Gaza on pro-Palestinian flotilla Dfat officials en route to Israeli prison after Australians on pro-Palestinian flotilla reportedly detained
(about 4 hours later)
Australian government says officials in Tel Aviv requested early consular access to those detained from Global Sumud Flotilla At least five Australians reportedly among Global Sumud Flotilla passengers being held at prison in Negev desert
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At least five Australians are reported to be among those detained by the Israeli government on a pro-Palestinian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. Australian officials are travelling to the Israeli prison where passengers from the pro-Palestinian flotilla carrying aid to Gaza are detained, as they await confirmation of the number of citizens locked up.
Israel said overnight it had stopped the flotilla, with its navy intercepting all but one of the vessels trying to breach the blockade. Of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s 42 vessels, 41 were listed as having been confirmed or assumed to have been stopped by Israeli forces. The flotilla was carrying about 500 people, including parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, such as Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. At least five Australians are reported to have been among those arrested after the Israeli navy stopped the flotilla overnight, intercepting all but one of the vessels attempting to breach the blockade.
As of midday on Friday, AEST time, the Australian government was still seeking confirmation from Tel Aviv about how many of its citizens were among those in Israeli custody and had asked to be granted consular access to any Australians. Of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s 42 vessels, 41 were listed as having been confirmed or assumed to have been stopped by Israeli forces.
The shutdowns for the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, which ran from Wednesday night to Thursday night, Israel time, are understood to have made it hard for Australian officials to secure confirmation quickly. The flotilla was carrying about 500 people, including parliamentarians, lawyers and activists, such as Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate campaigner.
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) said in a statement on Friday morning: “Australian officials in Tel Aviv are liaising with Israeli authorities and have formally requested confirmation of the detention of any Australians and early consular access.
“Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved.”
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In a statement on Friday afternoon, a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) said embassy officials in Tel Aviv were continuing to liaise with Israeli authorities after formally requesting confirmation of the detention of any Australian citizens.
The spokesperson confirmed officials were en route to Ketziot, the location of a prison in the Negev desert where passengers on the flotilla were transferred.
The shutdowns for the Jewish holy day Yom Kippur, which ran from Wednesday night to Thursday night, Israel time, are understood to have made it hard for Australian officials to secure quick confirmation of any detained citizens.
“Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved,” the statement read.
“We understand that people want to help deliver aid to those suffering in Gaza - we also want to see critical aid delivered.
“For some time, we have warned against attempts to breach the naval blockade and strongly advised Australians not to do so because of the risks to their safety.
“We repeat our call on Israel to enable the sustained, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.”
The office of Senator Mehreen Faruqi, the Greens deputy leader, said that among the Australians reportedly detained were Surya McEwen, Abubakir Rafiq, Hamish Paterson, Juliet Lamont and Bianca Webb-Pullman. Faruqi’s office said one other Australian, Cameron Tribe, was still at sea.The office of Senator Mehreen Faruqi, the Greens deputy leader, said that among the Australians reportedly detained were Surya McEwen, Abubakir Rafiq, Hamish Paterson, Juliet Lamont and Bianca Webb-Pullman. Faruqi’s office said one other Australian, Cameron Tribe, was still at sea.
The Dfat spokesperson said that while the department understood people’s desire “to help deliver aid to those suffering in Gaza – we also want to see critical aid delivered”. They said the government had repeatedly “warned against attempts to breach the naval blockade and strongly advised Australians not to do so because of the risks to their safety”.
“We repeat our call on Israel to enable the sustained, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” said the spokesperson.
Australia’s health minister, Mark Butler, told Sunrise on Friday that the government had “put in a formal request to the Israeli authorities … to have clear information about how many Australians have been detained and obviously to have consular access to those Australians as well”.Australia’s health minister, Mark Butler, told Sunrise on Friday that the government had “put in a formal request to the Israeli authorities … to have clear information about how many Australians have been detained and obviously to have consular access to those Australians as well”.
He echoed comments that Australians had been warned not to join attempts to break the blockade “because of obvious safety risks”.He echoed comments that Australians had been warned not to join attempts to break the blockade “because of obvious safety risks”.
“For those who are detained, we’ll be providing consular assistance to them,” Butler said.“For those who are detained, we’ll be providing consular assistance to them,” Butler said.
Israel’s foreign ministry, which had described the flotilla’s mission as a “provocation”, said all were “safe and in good health”.Israel’s foreign ministry, which had described the flotilla’s mission as a “provocation”, said all were “safe and in good health”.
“They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe,” it said on social media.“They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe,” it said on social media.
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Guardian Australia has contacted the Israeli embassy in Canberra for comment.Guardian Australia has contacted the Israeli embassy in Canberra for comment.
The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said the Coalition expected anyone detained to receive consular assistance. The opposition leader, Sussan Ley, said the Coalition expected anyone detained to receive consular assistance.
But she said those protesting against the Gaza war – whether passengers on the flotilla or people hoping to attend the planned Sydney Opera House march to mark two years since the start of the current wave of conflict – should instead focus on supporting the Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by Donald Trump. But she said those protesting against the Gaza war – whether passengers on the flotilla or people hoping to attend the planned Sydney Opera House march to mark two years since the start of the current wave of conflict – should instead focus on supporting the Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by Donald Trump.
“The only hope for peace in the region is the one brokered by the US,” Ley told reporters in Perth. “The only hope for peace in the region is the one brokered by the US,” Ley told reporters in Perth.
The flotilla, which was carrying symbolic humanitarian aid, aimed to breach the Gaza blockade and establish a maritime corridor into Gaza. It is the first time since Israel imposed a naval blockade on Gaza’s waters in 2009 that an unauthorised humanitarian mission has reached closer than 70 nautical miles from the territory.The flotilla, which was carrying symbolic humanitarian aid, aimed to breach the Gaza blockade and establish a maritime corridor into Gaza. It is the first time since Israel imposed a naval blockade on Gaza’s waters in 2009 that an unauthorised humanitarian mission has reached closer than 70 nautical miles from the territory.
Videos have emerged showing Israeli vessels intercepting flotilla vessels, including one from the Israeli foreign ministry that showed Thunberg sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers on the flotilla’s lead vessel, the Alma.Videos have emerged showing Israeli vessels intercepting flotilla vessels, including one from the Israeli foreign ministry that showed Thunberg sitting on a deck surrounded by soldiers on the flotilla’s lead vessel, the Alma.
In a video posted on Instagram shortly before the interception, Thunberg said: “My name is Greta Thunberg. I am onboard the ship Alma. We are about to be intercepted by Israel.”In a video posted on Instagram shortly before the interception, Thunberg said: “My name is Greta Thunberg. I am onboard the ship Alma. We are about to be intercepted by Israel.”
Thunberg and other activists were arrested and taken into custody at the Israeli port of Ashdod.Thunberg and other activists were arrested and taken into custody at the Israeli port of Ashdod.
While some of the vessels were boarded by Israeli soldiers, others sailed on towards the Gaza Strip before being intercepted.While some of the vessels were boarded by Israeli soldiers, others sailed on towards the Gaza Strip before being intercepted.
Protests have been held worldwide in response to the interception of the aid flotilla. On Thursday evening, snap protests were held in both Sydney and Melbourne. Protests have been held worldwide in response to the interception of the aid flotilla. On Thursday evening, snap protests were held in both Sydney and Melbourne.
Around 400 people attended the protest in Sydney, with video footage showing some protesters were restrained by police. There were no arrests. Around 400 people attended the protest in Sydney, with video footage showing some were restrained by police. There were no arrests.
– with AAP– with AAP