Australian families plead for safety as IDF intercepts Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters

Key facts

• 14 Australian citizens were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail from Italy on Monday.
• Israeli naval forces intercepted at least 22 boats in international waters west of Crete.
• Six Australians have been detained by the IDF, including climate activist Zack Schofield and University of Sydney student Ethan Floyd.
• Only two Australians – Anny Mokotow and Sam Watson – remained in communication as of Thursday afternoon.
• CCTV footage shows IDF personnel boarding the vessels carrying the six Australians.
• Israel's foreign minister Gideon Saar stated detained crew members will be taken to Greece in coordination with the Greek government.

A flotilla stopped in international waters

The Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of more than 50 boats carrying 500 tonnes of aid and volunteers, was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters west of the Greek island of Crete. The flotilla, which departed from Marseille, Barcelona, and Syracuse in recent weeks, aimed to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. In a social media post, the organisation reported that Israeli forces boarded and systematically disabled several boats, describing the action as a violent raid in international waters. Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, confirmed the interception, calling the flotilla provocative.

Australians among those detained

Among the 14 Australian citizens on board, at least six have been detained by the Israel Defense Forces, a spokesperson for the flotilla. Those detained include Newcastle climate activist Zack Schofield, University of Sydney student and Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa and Wailwan man Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Surya McEwen, and Cameron Tribe. CCTV footage posted online showed IDF members boarding the vessels carrying the Australians. Afterwards, pre-recorded messages were published to social media announcing they had been kidnapped against their will.

Families issue tearful pleas for safety

Zack Schofield's partner, Sarah, described receiving a text message from him saying he was okay, only to see a video of him being abducted 15 minutes later. She appealed for every Australian to understand the fear of the situation. Schofield's parents, Joanne and Peter, said they were trying to contact Foreign Minister Penny Wong, with Joanne describing her son as kind, smart, and caring. The family of a Newcastle man among the detained issued a tearful plea for his safety and criticised the Australian government for not intervening.

Communication lost for most Australians

By Thursday afternoon, only two Australians – Jews Against the Occupation member Anny Mokotow and Brisbane resident Sam Watson – remained in communication and were still sailing toward Gaza. The remaining vessels carrying Australians had lost communication for at least four hours and were presumed intercepted. Stewart alleged that at least six Australians have been detained by the IDF, though The Guardian has not independently confirmed their status.

Israel's response and disputed claims

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar tweeted that crew members were being taken to Greece in coordination with the Greek government, calling on those interested in humanitarian aid to use the Board of Peace instead. The Israeli foreign ministry posted on X that it had found condoms and drugs onboard the flotilla, a claim disputed by flotilla media spokespeople. Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, wrote on X that another provocative flotilla was stopped before reaching Israeli waters.

What comes next for the detainees and the flotilla

The status of the detained Australians remains unclear, with no official confirmation from Israeli or Australian authorities. The flotilla's remaining boats continue to face uncertainty, as communication has been lost for most. The Australian government has yet to issue a formal response to the family's pleas, raising questions about its role in protecting citizens abroad. The incident underscores the ongoing tensions surrounding the Gaza blockade and the risks taken by humanitarian activists.

The bottom line

• Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters, detaining at least six Australians.
• Families of the detained Australians have made emotional appeals for their safety and criticized the Australian government's lack of intervention.
• Only two of the 14 Australians on board remain in communication, with the rest presumed detained.
• Israel's foreign minister says crew members will be taken to Greece, while the flotilla disputes Israeli claims of contraband.
• The incident highlights the dangers of attempting to breach Israel's naval blockade of Gaza and the legal ambiguities of interceptions in international waters.