Australian FM Says She Believes Women Alleging Abuse During Gaza Flotilla Detention

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she believes the Australian women who alleged they were sexually assaulted and mistreated by Israeli soldiers after being detained during a humanitarian mission to Gaza last month.

Speaking in the Senate, Wong described the allegations as “distressing” and the reported treatment of the women as “unacceptable.”

“My principled position is to always believe women when allegations of sexual assault are made,” she said.

The allegations stem from the detention of 11 Australians who participated in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian convoy that sailed from Mediterranean ports carrying aid intended for Gaza, which remains under Israeli blockade.

The unarmed activists were intercepted by Israeli forces and later detained before being deported. Several participants have since accused Israeli personnel of physical violence, sexual assault and other forms of abuse during their detention.

“Those allegations are terrible. They are horrific. The treatment is unacceptable,” Wong said. “And I express my empathy to those women to whom that was done.”

The Australian government has privately raised concerns with Israel regarding both the treatment of Australian citizens and the refusal to grant Australian diplomatic officials access to detainees while they were in custody.

During a Senate debate, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi detailed allegations made by several of the detained Australians.

According to Faruqi, activist Juliet Lamont alleged that she was beaten, restrained with cable ties, subjected to near-drowning treatment and sexually assaulted while in custody. Lamont also claimed that her daughter was injected with an unknown substance and that other detainees were subjected to severe abuse.

Another participant, Neve O’Connor, alleged that she was physically assaulted and sexually humiliated during detention. O’Connor said she was repeatedly kneed in the back and legs while her hands were restrained behind her.

Activist Violet Coco alleged that she was held at gunpoint, stripped of her clothing, confined in a shipping container and later beaten and sexually assaulted before being transferred to a prison yard.

Wong later confirmed that her office had been in contact with some of the Australian women involved in the flotilla mission.

On Thursday, three flotilla participants, including Lamont, held a press conference at Parliament House, where they called for a meeting with Wong and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to discuss their allegations and Australia’s response.

“I’m really glad that Penny recently said that she believes us,” Lamont said. “The extension of that is she needs to meet with us, she needs to hear our testimony and she needs to sanction Israel.”

The activists have urged the Australian government to take stronger action against Israel over the allegations.

Addressing broader tensions in bilateral relations, Wong said Australia was currently experiencing “one of the most challenging times” in the history of its relationship with Israel.

“Australia is strongly opposed to many of the actions of the Netanyahu government and we have been clear about that opposition,” she said, adding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and members of his government have publicly criticized Australia’s position on several issues.

Israeli authorities have not publicly responded to the specific allegations cited in the Senate. The claims remain the subject of ongoing political and diplomatic scrutiny in Australia.