At least six Australian activists detained by Israel navy after Gaza flotilla boats intercepted

The family of a Newcastle man among at least six Australians onboard boats that were intercepted by Israeli navy personnel in international waters has issued a tearful plea for his safety and lashed out at the Australian government for not intervening. More than 50 boats set sail to Gaza from Italy on Monday as part of the Global Sumud flotilla in the hope of delivering 500 tonnes of aid and volunteers to the Gaza Strip, which remains under naval blockade by Israel. Among those onboard the ships were 14 Australian citizens . On Thursday afternoon, Alexa Stewart, a spokesperson for the flotilla, said just two Australians – Jews Against the Occupation member Anny Mokotow and Brisbane resident Sam Watson – remained in communication and were still sailing to Gaza after 22 boats were intercepted in international waters west of the Greek island of Crete. CCTV footage posted online shows members of the IDF boarding flotilla vessels sailing to Gaza, which had 14 Australians onboard. Photograph: Global Sumud Flotilla/Reuters Stewart has alleged at least six Australians have been detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including 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. Schofield’s partner, Sarah, said on Thursday that she wanted “every Australian to understand how scary this is”. …