Newcastle man among Australians intercepted on Gaza-bound flotilla

newy.com.au – Newcastle local Zack Schofield is among 11 Australians aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla that organisers say was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters off Cyprus.

The Australian delegation for the Global Sumud Flotilla said Israeli military vessels surrounded and boarded boats carrying humanitarian aid about 10.30am Eastern European Time on 18 May, or 6.30pm AEST. Organisers said the flotilla was more than 400km from Gaza at the time and was attempting to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, which the group describes as illegal.

The Global Sumud Flotilla includes 400 participants and 53 boats from almost 50 countries. Eleven Australians joined its relaunch from Turkiye on 14 May, with Schofield listed as Newcastle/Sydney. The other Australians named by the delegation were Anny Mokotow, Dr Bianca Pullman-Webb, Neve O’Connor, Violet Coco, Gemma O’Toole, Sam Woripa Watson, Helen O’Sullivan, Juliet Lamont, Isla Lamont and Surya McEwan.

The delegation said many of the Australians were now uncontactable and that their whereabouts and wellbeing were not known.

For Schofield, the incident follows an earlier confrontation at sea. Organisers said he was among four Australians intercepted by the Israeli navy two weeks ago while travelling from Italy to Greece.

In the early hours of 18 May, before the latest interception, Schofield spoke from the vessel Marilyn, saying, “We are in international waters west of Cyprus, anticipating a possible interception tonight”. He cited reports of unusual activity around the flotilla boats and said, “If we want to live in a world with humanity, we have to actively stand up for humanity. The fact remains that Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party are pro Israel in the face of all of this evidence of their lack of humanity.”

As the ships set sail, Schofield’s mother, Joanne Jaworoski, wrote: “My heart is in my throat. It’s dangerous; it scares me; simultaneously, I’m very proud of his commitment to kindness and his determination to bring aid to the sick and the starving”.

His father, Peter Schofield, said: “In short, there is abundant evidence of a genocide being undertaken in Gaza. With considerable skin in the game, I feel compelled to publicly decry the catastrophe of Gaza and the extraordinary failure of the international community to effectively intervene.”

Flotilla organisers and supporters are calling on Penny Wong and Anthony Albanese to demand the safe release of Australian humanitarian volunteers detained by Israel, publicly condemn what they describe as the kidnapping of Australian citizens, and “stop arming and supporting Israel”.

Maitland local Ethan Floyd, a Global Sumud Flotilla participant who has returned home after being detained by Israel two weeks ago, said: “The Albanese government must condemn the kidnapping of its citizens by a foreign country. And it must follow that condemnation with real sanctions, political and economic, on the rogue state of Israel.”