Israel’s abduction and torture of several Global Sumud Flotilla activists is a flagrant breach of international law

7 October 2025

Israeli forces have unlawfully intercepted at least 41 vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla, kidnapping, detaining and torturing dozens of activists, including Australians, who set to sail to deliver life-saving aid and break Israel's cruel and inhumane blockade of Gaza.

These abductions occurred in international waters in violation of international law and carried out with total impunity.

Amnesty International Australia demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained activists and urges that they are protected from further torture and ill-treatment. The crew of the Global Sumud Flotilla, composed of human rights defenders, doctors, parliamentarians, activists and journalists from over 40 countries, represents humanity at its best, risking their lives to break Israel's illegal blockade and bring urgent relief to almost two million Palestinians, who have endured two years of genocide and engineered famine in Gaza.

Amnesty International Australia demands the immediate and unconditional release of all detained activists and urges that they are protected from further torture and ill-treatment.

International humanitarian law, including the Geneva Convention and its Protocols, protect civilian vessels, including those engaged in protest or delivering aid under the rules of naval warfare. Attacks on such vessels and the abduction and torture of civilian objects constitute grave breaches of international humanitarian law.

Among those detained are seven Australian citizens, Abubakir Rafiq, Juliet Lamont, Hamish Paterson, Surya McEwan, Bianca Webb-Pullman, Cameron Tribe and Dan Adler. Amnesty International Australia demands Israel immediately and unconditionally releases them and ensure they are protected from torture and other ill-treatment. We demand the Australian Government condemn these human rights abuses and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

Amnesty Australia has been in contact with Human Rights Barrister, Jen Robinson, representing the Australian Flotilla activists.

"The seven Australian humanitarians participating in the Global Flotilla were intercepted by Israel in international waters in violation of international law. We have since received shocking accounts of human rights violations committed during their arrest and detention. This has included inhuman and degrading treatment, physical abuse, sleep deprivation, threats of sexual violence, insufficient or unclean food and water, the confiscation of medicines," says Jen Robinson.

"We call on Israel to respect and ensure the rights of these Australian citizens and to release them immediately. We urge the Australian government to take urgent action to assist us to secure their release."

"We call on Israel to respect and ensure the rights of these Australian citizens and to release them immediately. We urge the Australian government to take urgent action to assist us to secure their release."

Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australia's Occupied Palestinian Territory Spokesperson says:

"Israel's abduction and torture of the Global Sumud Flotilla activists is not only an attack on these brave individuals, but an attack on humanity itself.

"Israel is deliberately starving and suffocating an entire population, and those brave heroes who dare to resist are being tortured and silenced. The world cannot continue to look away."

"Israel is deliberately starving and suffocating an entire population, and those brave heroes who dare to resist are being tortured and silenced. The world cannot continue to look away. This genocide must end; Israel's impunity must end and those responsible must be held to account to bring justice."

Background

Israel's interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, and the abduction and torture of crew members are grave violations of international law. Civilian vessels and humanitarian missions are protected under international treaties and customary law, especially those carrying aid or engaging in peaceful protest.

Surya McKewan reports that he was slapped, had his arm dislocated, and his head slammed into the ground before Israeli forces tore his passport in front of him. Juliet Lamont recounts being blasted with a water cannon, then forced to sit for seven hours in an unventilated area with her hands bound and her clothes drenched, while Israeli forces repeatedly shoved her head. Another Australian described being forced to strip, undo his hair and 'dance like a monkey' in front of prison guards. All of these acts constitute torture, inhumane and other degrading treatment under international law.

Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, civilian vessels cannot be intercepted in international waters, except under very limited circumstances that do not apply here. Similarly, the San Remo Manual on Armed Conflicts at Sea prohibits blockades designed to starve civilians or deny them essential supplies.

The United Nations Convention Against Torture prohibits the use of torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, protections that the detained Flotilla activists were clearly denied.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights safeguard the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, while the Geneva Conventions and Additional Protocol I ensure that civilians must never be targeted and that humanitarian aid must reach those in need.

The treatment of the Flotilla crew is not only morally outrageous but legally indefensible, and their immediate release is urgent.

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