Australians detained by Israeli forces as they attempted to deliver aid to Gaza have taken evidence of their alleged abuse to the International Criminal Court.
A flotilla of 400 people, including 11 Australians, was detained in international waters by Israel on May 18, and on Friday provided evidence to The Hague that Australians were subject to sexual assault and being injected with unknown substances.
Australian lawyer Bernadette Zaydan, part of the legal team taking evidence to the court, said war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and other serious violations of international law were committed by Israeli forces.
“The Australian government needs to urgently review its relationship with Israel diplomatically, militarily, and economically,” Zaydan said.
“For the survivors, it is the beginning of hopefully what will be accountability.
“This isn’t just about the violent interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels, it’s about the thousands of Palestinians who have lived and died under the same system of abuse, impunity and violence.”
The flotilla of 50 boats with an estimated 400 people from almost 50 countries was attempting to deliver food, medicine and baby formula to the war-torn Gaza Strip.
The Israeli embassy said the flotilla’s “provocateurs’ false allegations were scripted in advance, for one goal only: defaming Israel”.
“The provocateurs were neither tortured nor raped. Such claims are entirely baseless and are intended solely to advance the provocateurs’ smear campaign against Israel,” the embassy said in a statement late on Saturday.
Zaydan said they have evidence of Australians suffering a broken cheek bone, cracked ribs, broken coccyx and contusions. A Turkish hospital has provided evidence of these injuries that will form part of the brief, she said.
Israel’s military retaliation in Gaza after the events of October 7, 2023, have left more than 72,000 people dead and destroyed the territory’s infrastructure, according to the United Nations World Food Program.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir drew widespread condemnation after posting a video of himself taunting detainees as they knelt with their heads on the ground and their hands tied behind their backs.
The video led the Australian government to officially rebuke Israel’s ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman, while senior ministers labelled Ben-Gvir’s behaviour as “disgraceful”.
But the activists want stronger action and sanctions applied to Israel, as well as an audience with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“If Australian survivors can be heard in The Hague but not in Canberra, something has gone badly wrong,” flotilla participant Juliet Lamont said.
Lawyers are continuing to collect evidence, including witness statements and medical examination records, to make formal submissions to the court.
Israel’s prison service has denied the abuse allegations.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the flotilla “attempting to reach Gaza is a ludicrous attempt to undermine President [Donald] Trump’s successful progress toward lasting peace in the region”.
The United States has also imposed sanctions on four activists associated with the flotilla.
Israel will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza, the embassy statement said.
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