Flotilla activists take evidence of alleged abuse to international court – Australian Broadcasting Corporation

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By Audrey Courty
Topic:Unrest, Conflict and War
Sun 31 May 2026 at 11:36am
Australian activists Zack Schofield, Neve O'Connor and Isla Lamont. (Supplied: Palestinian-Australian Global Sumud Flotilla media)
Eleven Australians detained by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court alleging abuse, torture and other violations during their detention.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has rejected claims that flotilla participants were mistreated while in custody. 
The Global Sumud Flotilla called for independent international investigations, arms embargoes and reparations for alleged victims. 
Australians detained by Israeli forces while trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza have taken evidence of alleged abuse and mistreatment to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The 11 Australians were among an international flotilla of more than 400 people who were intercepted and detained on May 18 while trying to break Israel's naval blockade on the war-torn Gaza Strip to deliver food, medicine and baby formula.
Australians involved in the mission were Anny Mokotow, Bianca Webb-Pullman, Neve O'Connor, Violet Coco, Gemma O'Toole, Sam Woripa Watson, Zack Schofield, Helen O'Sullivan, Juliet Lamont, Isla Lamont and Surya McEwan. 
In a statement issued on Friday, the Global Sumud Flotilla said activists had lodged a submission to the ICC, alleging war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and other violations of international law. 
Most of the 11 Australian activists on the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla have returned home after being detained by Israel.
"The Global Sumud Flotilla aims to challenge the systemic impunity of the Israeli regime," the statement said.
"The submission presented to the ICC focuses heavily on the [alleged] severe, widespread abuses against civilians, including journalists, medics and human rights defenders as part of a coordinated campaign of violence."
The Global Sumud Flotilla called for independent investigations, arms embargoes and reparations for alleged victims. 
The allegations have not yet been tested in court. 
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has rejected claims that flotilla participants were mistreated while in custody. 
"IDF orders require respectful and appropriate treatment of flotilla participants on the intercepted vessels, and there are clear and established procedures in this regard," it said in a previous statement.
"No specific incidents of deviation from these binding procedures are known within the IDF. Any concrete complaints submitted to the IDF on the matter will be examined thoroughly."
The ABC has contacted the IDF for comment on the ICC submission. 
Since returning to Australia last week, several detainees have publicly alleged they were subjected to beatings, torture and sexual assault while in Israeli custody.
In an earlier statement, the flotilla group said at least 67 people suffered injuries during detention that required further medical evaluation at a state hospital, while another 12 participants were hospitalised. 
The video posted by Itamar Ben-Gvir showed the detained activists on their hands and knees. (X: itamarbengvir)
Australian lawyer Bernadette Zaydan is part of the legal team helping activists present evidence to the international court in The Hague, Netherlands. 
"For the survivors, it is the beginning of hopefully what will be accountability," Ms Zaydan said.
"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."
Israel's ambassador to Australia Hillel Newman has stopped short of apologising to the Global Sumud Flotilla activists detained in Israel who had been taunted by far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. 
The Australian activists called for stronger action and sanctions against 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 Ms Lamont said.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 72,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, which was triggered by Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. About 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, according to Israeli officials.  
The latest flotilla mission also drew attention to Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who faced widespread criticism after posting a video appearing to show detainees kneeling on the ground with their hands restrained behind their backs while he taunted them.
The footage prompted the Australian government to summon Israel's ambassador and sanction Mr Ben-Gvir, with Foreign Minister Penny Wong describing his actions as "shocking and unacceptable". 
Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, also condemned his actions but rejected allegations the flotilla crew had been harmed. He said any past or current allegations of violence and sexual assault were untrue. 
The flotilla's legal action came as the United Nations added Israel to a blacklist of 77 international parties suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict zones. 
The decision prompted Israel's foreign ministry to announce it would sever all ties with UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
António Guterres speaks during a Security Council meeting on May 26.  (AP Photo: Seth Wenig)
In his annual report to the UN Security Council on conflict-related sexual violence, Mr Guterres said the UN had documented in 2025 "patterns of sexual violence" against Palestinians detained in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.
He said there were "multiple incidents" of conflict-related sexual violence, "including as a form of torture, inflicted on 14 men, seven women, nine boys and one girl from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank". 
Mr Gutteres said 13 of those cases happened last year, while 18 others date from 2023 and 2024.
Palestinians in Gaza fear they are being forgotten as the Iran war drags on.
Hamas was already included on the blacklist. 
In a social media post, Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said placing Israel alongside the militant group marked a "new low".
"This is a political decision! Disconnected from the facts and reality!" Mr Danon wrote.
He said Israel had provided documents, data and detailed responses to the allegations that were raised in the report.
Israel's foreign ministry said it had "comprehensively, thoroughly, and unequivocally refuted these allegations".
"This decision is yet another example of the UN's long-standing, institutionalised hostility toward Israel," the foreign ministry wrote in a social media post. 
The report also included accusations of sexual violence committed by Hamas against six hostages that had been held by the militant group. 
But Mr Gutteres said the UN had been unable to independently verify those reports because the Israeli government continued to deny investigators access.
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