The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), among others, have condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and called on Australia to take action against Israel’s breach of international law.
Six Australian humanitarians have been detained approximately 70 kilometres from the Gaza coastline. They are: Surya McEwen (40); Abubakir Rafiq; Hamish Paterson; Juliet Lamont; Bianca Webb-Pullman and Dan Coward.
They have all been Illegally Abducted from their vessels, Mia Mia, The Spectre and Wahoo, and are in Israeli custody. Their families are extremely concerned given than more than 280 aid workers have been killed by Israeli Defense Forces since October 7, 2023.
At as October 2, 20 out of 44 boats had been intercepted and six are still sailing.
Warren Smith, MUA’s Deputy National Secretary, said on October 2 that Israel undertaking “a disgraceful act of state piracy”.
“Our member and his comrades were exercising the oldest of seafarers’ traditions by seeking to deliver aid where it is needed most. Instead, they were met with armed aggression by a military intent on silencing global solidarity with Palestine.”
The flotilla set sail from ports in Europe to challenge the ongoing illegal blockade of Gaza. The crew are unarmed humanitarian activists, carrying essential medical supplies and aid.
Among them are doctors, trade unionists, clergy, artists and seafarers, who are committed to breaking the siege through nonviolent action.
Calls are being made from all parts of the country on Labor to demand the immediate release of all the Sumud crew members.
MUA Queensland Branch Assistant Secretary, Paul Gallagher, said: “Our government cannot continue to turn a blind eye. When civilians attempting to deliver food and medicine to people subjected to an ongoing genocide are met with military force, it exposes the brutal reality of the blockade and the siege.”
The ABC reported Labor’s assistant minister for foreign affairs and trade Matt Thistlethwaite saying he was “deeply concerned” about the safety of passengers and that “all parties” must respect international law before the Sumud boats were intercepted.
Meanwhile, Peter Cronau from Declassified Australia reported that at least 69 shipments of F-35 parts have been flown out on commercial passenger planes to Israel as recently as September.
Smith said the MUA “will continue to monitor and investigate whether arms shipments are being moved through Australian sea ports and which ones,” adding the MUA opposes the export of any weapons that will be used in a genocide — a contravention of international law.
“The MUA has always stood against war, occupation and oppression,” Smith said. “We will not be silent while our member and other peace activists are arrested for doing what our governments have so far failed to do — provide aid and issue a demand that Israel end this humanitarian catastrophe.”
[Follow the Sumud flotilla here and send your protest to the Labor government here.]