Liberty Victoria calls on the Australian Government to take swift and meaningful action in relation to Israel’s unlawful interception of the peaceful humanitarian flotilla headed to Gaza.
On Monday, Israeli forces boarded a vessel that is part of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Freedom Flotilla Coalition and unlawfully captured and detained 11 Australian citizens. The Australians, who were in international waters, were part of a fleet of 54 boats attempting to reach Gaza with supplies of aid.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has said that it is “urgently seeking” confirmation of the welfare of the Australians, and “will continue to make clear our expectation that any detainees receive humane treatment in line with international norms”.
Importantly, the civilian flotilla is a response to Israel’s ongoing blockade on humanitarian aid in Gaza. Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has been in effect since 2007, has been described by the UN as a “direct contravention of international human rights and humanitarian law”.
Leading international legal experts, United Nations officials, and genocide scholars have raised grave concerns regarding the conduct of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, including the September 2025 UN Commission finding that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Despite this, the Australian Government has continued to take an approach characterised more by caution and equivocation than by principled action.
The Australian Government must do more in response to Israel’s violations of international law
It is outrageous that Australia has failed to use the diplomatic, political and legal measures available to it to uphold international law. The Australian Government should be doing all it can to condemn the capture and secure the release of Australian citizens.
It must also stand up for a rules-based order and do more to stand up to Israel’s illegal and horrific actions in Palestine, Lebanon and elsewhere.
The detention of Australian citizens in international waters should have prompted an immediate and unequivocal response. Instead, it has underscored a broader unwillingness to confront ongoing and serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The Australian Government must take meaningful action in response to Israel’s ongoing defiance of international law, both in relation to the flotilla and in relation to Israeli actions in Gaza, Lebanon and elsewhere.
At a minimum, the Australian Government must:
- take all action available to it to secure the immediate and unconditional release of the detained Australians and condemn Israel for the unlawful interceptions;
- impose sanctions on Israel and the officials who have promoted or incited Israel’s actions;
- immediately cease military ties with Israel;
- cease all trade, financial and other economic relations with Israel that sustain its unlawful actions; and
- take action against any person in Australia who is responsible for international crimes.
Read our full media release here.