GSF '26 interception report

MAGAN-DJIN/BRISBANE, 6am 19 May – At 5:30pm AEST (10:30am Palestine time) yesterday, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) launched a naval interception operation against the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) in international waters west of Cyprus. The interception is still ongoing.

Over the past 12 hours, the Israeli navy has intercepted 38 boats and captured 319 people, including 11 Australian citizens. They are Neve O'Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Anny Mokotow, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Gemma O'Toole, Violet Coco and Helen O'Sullivan. Their whereabouts are still unknown.

At this time, 13 boats continue sailing steadfastly for Gaza. Alongside them, a convoy has embarked on the same mission by land, traveling through Mauritania, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt to break Israel's siege on Gaza and bring aid to the people of Palestine.

This attack comes just weeks after Israel's first attempt to dismantle the flotilla when it launched a surprise interception on the fleet sailing from Italy to Greece, 1,110km from Gaza's shores and Israeli occupied territory. 175 activists, including six Australians, were kidnapped and held on board a prison ship for two days at sea before being released to Greek authorities in Crete. They reported severe mistreatment and abuse, including being beaten, sexually abused and raped, dragged across the floor, forced to hold stress positions for extended periods, and intentionally kept awake through sleep deprivation techniques. 36 people required medical treatment after release. Two participants, Brazilian Thiago Ávila and Spanish-Swedish national and Palestinian Saif Abukeshek, were taken to Israel where they were held for 10 days and subjected to abuse and torture.

Many of those intercepted near Crete continued the mission, including McEwen, O'Connor, Dr Webb-Pullman and Schofield.

“Hello, my name is Neve. If you are seeing this video, this means that I have been illegally kidnapped by the state of Israel,” said 26 year-old O’Connor in a pre-recorded SOS video.

“This would be my second time being kidnapped by a fascist rogue state, and it will likely be the second time that my government is quiet. To the Australian government, your ability to be complicit and abide by genocide is appalling. To Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong, I lay the blame directly at your feet. Your silence is disgusting and you allowed your citizens to be kidnapped by a fascist state wherein they were tortured and abused.”

Schofield said he won’t be asking for help from the Australian government this time “because last time they completely refused to condemn Israel’s act of piracy in international waters”.

“Anthony Albanese and the Labor party continue to support the state of Israel with weapons components, finances and political support. No matter how many laws they break, how many Australians they kidnap or how many children they kill.”

Dr Webb-Pullman, McEwen and Juliet Lamont were also imprisoned in October 2025 when they participated in the last Global Sumud Flotilla mission to Gaza.

For McEwen, this is his fourth mission to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza.

“We have seen Palestinian women, children and men massacred, raped and tortured on our screens for years whilst our governments remained silent. It was our leaders’ moral duty, obligation and legal responsibility – one they have shirked – leaving us forced to take it up ourselves,” he said. “When history looks back on this genocide, I do not want to be someone who did nothing. I would make the same choice again.”

McEwen’s mother, Jacinta McEwen, says that her son believed that “silence in the face of genocide is complicity”.

“He has always stood up for what is right. Now I need the world to stand up for him and his comrades. Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese have for too long allowed our supposed allies to commit the most heinous war crimes with impunity. Are they now going to stand by without condemning the kidnapping and mistreatment of Australian citizens too?”

O’Connor’s SOS video finishes with an unwavering promise: “To the people of Palestine, I love you. We are coming for you, whether it’s this mission or the next, we will be there. We will be delivering life-saving humanitarian aid to your shores. We will help you rebuild as you fight against the tyranny of Israel’s oppression and illegal occupation. Their apartheid regime is one that history will look back on with disgust, and I am proud to be here helping, alongside you, fight for your freedom.”

Report prepared in my role as a member of the GSF Australia media team.