Australian Doctor Alleges Mistreatment of Gaza Flotilla Activists
An Australian doctor involved in the Global Sumud flotilla has described how activists were treated 'worse than animals' after being detained by Israeli authorities. The flotilla was attempting to break Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Violence and Degradation Alleged
Bianca Webb-Pullman, the doctor, recounted that activists faced rough handling after being transferred to what she described as a prison boat. She said they were then dragged off the vessel at the port and forced into stress positions, enduring physical and psychological abuse.
Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sparked widespread condemnation and diplomatic backlash on Wednesday by posting a video showing the detained activists with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground as he taunted them. The incident drew sharp criticism both within Israel and internationally.
Netanyahu Distances Himself from Minister’s Actions
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the interception of the flotilla but stated that Ben-Gvir’s treatment of the activists was 'not in line with Israel’s values and norms.' The Australian government also condemned the treatment, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong calling it 'shocking and unacceptable.'
Eleven Australian activists detained as part of the flotilla have been deported to Turkey. The incident has reignited debate over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and the treatment of activists seeking to deliver aid to the Palestinian territory.
