Aussie activists ‘psychologically brutalised' by Israeli soldiers
Journalist and filmmaker Tan Safi and activist Robert Martin were part of a 21-strong crew that set sail aboard the 'Handala' as part of a humanitarian mission.
Since Israel began military operations in Gaza in October 2023, 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in a campaign that prominent Israeli humanitarian organisations labelled as 'genocide' on Monday.
While speaking to the media at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, the pair said they were 'psychologically brutalised' by their captors.
'We were in international waters at the time, and we were taken completely against our will and just brutalised psychologically in every way,' Safi said.
'We were on a hunger and water strike, but the only time they offered food was once and it was a tomato about (the size of a golf ball),' she said.
In a video published on Sunday, Safi said she had been 'abducted' by the Israeli military, and urged supporters to 'put pressure on the Australian government to sanction Israel'.
The Freedom Flotilla departed from Syracuse, Italy, on July 13, fully equipped with humanitarian supplies, en route to Gaza.
Free Gaza Australia, the Australian branch of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) that organised the expedition, said the cargo of the Handala 'carried desperately needed lifesaving humanitarian cargo, including baby formula, food, and medical supplies, to the Palestinian people in Gaza'.
At about midnight on July 26, the Handala was intercepted by the Israeli military about 80km miles off the coast of Gaza – an area that is considered to be international waters.
Footage shows the moment Israeli troops boarded the flotilla, brandishing assault weapons and pointing them in the direction of flotilla activists who sat in the middle of their ship with hands outstretched.
The crew had agreed before their arrest they would engage in a hunger strike in solidarity with Palestinians.
Every crew member has now been deported to their country of residence or are in the process of repatriation.
In a social media post on Friday morning, Free Gaza Australia said plans were already under way for another expedition to Palestine.
'Robert and Tan are home and we're already preparing the next Freedom Flotilla boat to break the siege of Gaza. We sail until Palestine is free,' it said.
Allegations have also surfaced of other Freedom Flotilla crew members being abused by IDF soldiers.
The FFC said US crew member Chris Smalls was beaten, kicked and choked by at least seven IDF soldiers as he and the other crew members were being detained in the only physical display of brutality catalogued by members of the Flotilla.
Among the activists was Greta Thunberg, who has since been sent back to Sweden by Israeli authorities.
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