Published On 2/5/2026
Three Australian activists who participated in the Global Resilience Flotilla announced today, Saturday, the start of a hunger strike on the Greek island of Crete, while Israel is detaining two of their colleagues after it intercepted the flotilla seeking to break the siege on the Gaza Strip.
The Guardian newspaper quoted Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor and Zach Schofield – three of six Australians who were released after their ships were intercepted on Wednesday – that they and their colleagues “were subjected to ill-treatment during their two-day detention on board an Israeli ship.”
The Greek authorities announced the transfer of 31 out of 175 activists to a hospital in Crete, while the Turkish authorities announced the arrival of about 60 by plane to Istanbul on Friday evening.
Schofield said that the three Australians had left the hospital but were still on the island, adding in his interview with the Guardian Australia newspaper after his release that Israel had detained the activists on board a ship that had been “turned into a prison, the deck of which was crowded with shipping containers surrounded by barbed wire.”
Schofield confirmed that the demonstrators were “subjected to violence from the Israeli forces,” and said, “They beat the activists with the butts of their rifles and batons, and with their hands and feet.”
He added, “I saw a man shot with a rubber bullet in the leg and back from close range. A friend who was part of the American delegation also told me that he was repeatedly kicked in different places on his body.”
“Two stun grenades were thrown directly at my feet when I was sitting opposite the entrance to the prison yard, and I had to crouch down to avoid them before they exploded in my face,” Schofield said.
The three activists announced in a video clip that they had decided not to accept any food from the Israelis “as they continue to starve the Palestinian people.”
Two detained
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the detention of two activists from the Global Resilience Fleet that sailed to the Gaza Strip in an attempt to break the Israeli siege, in preparation for referring them to investigation.
The Ministry stated that Saif Abu Kishk, who holds Spanish citizenship, and Brazilian Thiago Avila are in Israel and “will be referred for questioning to law enforcement authorities,” confirming that all flotilla activists will be deported to Greece.
Last Thursday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the arrest of 175 activists who were on board more than 20 boats that were seized in international waters when they were on their way to Gaza.
In a post on the X platform, the Israeli Foreign Ministry described the flotilla as “a new provocation aimed at diverting attention from Hamas’ refusal to disarm.”
About 10 countries, including Spain, Turkey and Pakistan, condemned in a joint statement the “flagrant violations of international law” by Israel, and Madrid on Friday called on Israel to “immediately release” Abu Kishk.
The Spanish Foreign Ministry said in a statement, “In view of the reports indicating the detention of Abu Kishk, a member of the fleet, and the possibility of his transfer to Israel,” Spain demands “that his rights be respected and his immediate release.”
“We also continue to engage with local authorities in Israel and Greece to ensure that any Australians are detained,” the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.
The Israeli Navy had previously intercepted all 42 ships of the fleet, which aimed to break the siege on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to the Strip. It also arrested about 470 activists who were on board the ships, before deporting them later.
Source: Al Jazeera + Agencies + Australian Press
