🔗 Share this article

Australian activists held in Israel have reported enduring what they call “degrading and humiliating treatment” following their arrest onboard a humanitarian convoy carrying aid to Gaza.

An activist, Surya McEwen, claimed he was struck and suffered a dislocated arm and had his head slammed into the ground.

Medical Worries and Detention Conditions

Another participant, Lamont, voiced serious concern about her health, stating she was at danger of a medical emergency after her daily medication were confiscated by authorities.

She portrayed the prison environment as “oppressive” and noted that her appeal for more medication had not been met.

McEwen and Lamont are among a group of Aussies verified by Australian officials to have been taken into custody in Israel.

Officials mentioned they are offering support to the individuals, including through in-person visits.

Claims of Unsafe Facilities

The activists are being detained in a maximum-security facility in the desert region and assert that they and other detainees were given water that was undrinkable due to a foul odor.

McEwen informed Australian officials that he had been kept in a enclosure with dozens of individuals without sustenance, while being subjected to abuse from authorities.

Lamont stated that upon arriving Ketziot prison, she was taken to a room with other women and insulted by officials, who labeled them “terrorists”.

Arrest and Treatment Information

The care worker, in his forties, and the documentary film-maker, 54 years old, were detained on Thursday when their Gaza-bound ships were stopped by the Israeli navy.

They were part of the international aid mission comprising 42 vessels and hundreds of participants, including lawmakers, lawyers, and campaigners.

Australian representatives visited the Aussie detainees on the following day.

According to a account reviewed by media outlets, he described “degrading and humiliating treatment” after being taken to the port of Ashdod.

He explained that his morale was low due to sleep deprivation techniques and physical intimidation from detention staff.

Relatives Concerns and Medical Problems

His mother, Jacinta McEwen, a healthcare professional, said she had been contacting authorities for daily updates and was concerned about the “intense” conditions her son was facing.

“If he’s got a dislocated shoulder and he’s had a head injury and he hasn’t received any medical aid, I’m worried about that,” she stated.

She believed her son’s deportation was being delayed because he refused to sign a document admitting he had entered Israel illegally.

The flotilla argues it was wrongfully stopped by the Israeli navy in international waters.

McEwen also told officials that Israeli soldiers had torn up pages of his travel document because it was microchipped.

Both activists threw their phones into the sea before their capture.

Differences in Detainment Accounts

While he stated his detainment on board the vessel was executed with little violence, Lamont – travelling on a different ship – recounted a “humiliating” ordeal.

She claimed her hands were bound behind her back, she was targeted with a water cannon, and was left to sit in an unventilated area with her hands tied and clothes soaked for an extended period.

During this time, she reported her head was forcibly pushed by Israeli forces.

Detention Environment and Medical Effects

Both are being held in the facility, which is mainly utilized to hold inmates, many of whom Israel alleges of involvement in militant or terrorist activities.

After consular staff visited her, they observed she was “emotionally distressed”, weeping repeatedly during the visit.

The mother of two was described as feeling dehydrated, feeble, dizzy, and confused.

Lamont said a official had informed her that water from taps was contaminated, and she feared her dehydration was worsening her hypertension.

On the day of her detainment, after her daily medication was confiscated, she stated a physician – after checking her vitals – had given her one dose of medication.

But after representatives visited her, they noted she was feeling lethargic, confused, and lethargic, and worried she was at danger of stroke.

Her appeal to consult a physician had received no response.

International and Relative Responses

A representative for Global Movement to Gaza Australia expressed fear that her friend was at danger of succumbing without access to medication.

Julie Webb-Pullman of another Aussie detainee, her daughter, stated she had obtained a update from authorities giving a summary of their inspection to the facility.

She described that her child had been subjected to mistreatment, humiliation, threats, and was physically handled and pushed.

She was also left in a courtyard in the heat for five hours with no shade, sustenance.

She added a tap with unclean liquid, meaning she had drunk no or little water in days.

Official Statements

Australian authorities replied to inquiries with a message that declared the Australian government had “made clear to Israel our expectation that detainees will receive humane treatment in line with international norms”.

“We repeat our call on Israel to enable the sustained, unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza,” the statement added.

Media outlets contacted detention authorities, the Israel Defense Forces, the Israeli ministry for foreign affairs, and the Israeli embassy in Australia, but no one replied to a query.