IN BRIEF
- Eleven Australians were among 400 flotilla participants intercepted west of Cyprus last week.
- They have started arriving back in Australia, with some alleging mistreatment by Israeli authorities.
This story contains references to sexual assault.
Australians who took part in a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have started arriving home after being released from detention in Israel.
Eleven Australians were among 400 people detained by Israel last week in international waters west of Cyprus.
Many of the group, including some Australians, allege they suffered abuse at the hands of Israeli authorities while in detention, including broken bones, sexual assault, being Tasered in the face and being injected with unknown substances.
Israeli authorities have dismissed the allegations as false, claiming detainees were "held in accordance with the law".
Seven Australians were due to arrive in Sydney on Monday morning, while others will land in Melbourne and Brisbane.
Activist Violet Coco arrived at Melbourne airport on Monday morning, telling media she and other detainees were abused in Israeli custody.
She said Israeli authorities "beat, tortured and sexually assaulted" activists detained during the flotilla operation.
She also claimed detainees suffered fractures and head injuries, while some people allegedly went without insulin and blood pressure medication for several days.
Coco alleged she was pushed through a dark room, groped and repeatedly struck while in detention.
Gemma O'Toole was the first of the Australian activists to return on Sunday night and made similar allegations.
The 23-year-old student arrived at Melbourne Airport, where she was greeted by applause from friends and family.
Speaking to the ABC, O'Toole said she was "relieved" to be back in Australia but described herself as "deeply sad and traumatised" following the ordeal.
"It is going to take me a while to come to terms with what's happened and everything I have seen," she said.
O'Toole alleged Israeli forces subjected activists to physical abuse and sexual violence while in detention.
Surya McEwen, a dual diagnosis care worker from Mullumbimby in northern NSW, said the latest flotilla was his third attempt to deliver aid.
During his most recent detention, he was held for 80 hours and alleges he was beaten in a room while Israeli soldiers sang the national anthem.
Other Australians who were part of the flotilla allege they were denied food and water and physically assaulted.
McEwen likened the prison ships used by Israel to prisoner of war camps with nowhere to sleep, few toilets and platforms from which soldiers indiscriminately fired rubber bullets.
"We're all very tired, battered and bruised," he told the Australian Associated Press during a stopover before arriving in Sydney.
"I am physically hurting a bit but also have a strong resolve.
"While I was imprisoned, I thought of the thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel, hundreds among them children, and many being held without reason."
Israel's foreign ministry has labelled the flotilla a "provocation for the sake of provocation" and has previously denied the participants' allegations of abuse.
Israel's prison services said detainees were "held in accordance with the law".
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also rejected claims of abuse in a statement to the ABC.
"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.
But members of the aid delegation are speaking with lawyers about their experience.
They want evidence collated to be used at the International Criminal Court to support the abuse claims of Palestinians.
While McEwen did not yet know what the next steps would be for the flotilla mission, he said the push for Palestinian liberation was stronger than ever.
"What we know about the human spirit is that when there is overwhelming horror happening for millions, like what has been happening in Gaza, it is part of the collective nature to find a way to intervene," he said.
"It's not that the dangers or the struggle of this movement makes it less likely for people to be involved. If anything, we have built more resolve to be stronger and more creative and thoughtful in the way we do this work.
"All that Israel has is violence but we have love, care, community and human solidarity ... [this movement] will definitely build and get stronger and the tactics will evolve."
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
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