DaysofPal— Australian activists detained by Israeli occupation forces while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza have returned home, describing it as four days of hell marked by torture, abuse, violence, and mistreatment during their detention.
The group was part of an international flotilla of around 430 volunteers from 40 countries aboard 50 boats, which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters last week.
The mission aimed to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver essential aid supplies.
According to organizers, 11 Australians were among those detained.
Several have now returned to cities, including Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, where they began recounting their experiences.
Juliet Lamont, an Australian activist and documentary filmmaker, said she was subjected to physical assault and sexual harassment while in custody.
“That was just the beginning of four days of absolute hell,” Lamont said on Monday.
“I looked into the eyes of some of the cruelest people and saw nothing. This must be stopped.”
Another activist, Sam Wuriba Watson, reported suffering a fractured rib along with bruises and cuts across his body.
He said he witnessed other detainees being subjected to electric shocks, rubber bullets, and stun grenades.
Organizers of the flotilla, identified as the Global Sumud Flotilla, said they documented at least 15 cases of sexual assault.
They alleged that some of the most serious incidents took place aboard an Israeli landing vessel that had been converted into a temporary detention facility using barbed wire and shipping containers.
The testominies have intensified international scrutiny of Israeli handling of the activists, particularly after the circulation of a video showing Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir mocking detainees who were bound and lying on the ground.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong described the footage as “shocking and unacceptable.” Canberra had already imposed travel bans and financial sanctions on Ben-Gvir last year, citing his incitement of violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, calls are growing from human rights groups and international actors for an independent investigation into the incident.
The interception of the flotilla and subsequent reports of abuse come amid ongoing tensions surrounding Gaza, where humanitarian conditions remain dire under continued restrictions on aid and movement.
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