Eleven Australians Detained After Attempting to Breach Gaza Naval Blockade Submit Claims to ICC

Eleven Australians detained by Israeli forces on May 18 submitted evidence to the International Criminal Court alleging war crimes, crimes against humanity, torture and other violations of international law. The 11 Australians were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international group of more than 400 people intercepted while trying to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza to deliver food, medicine and baby formula.

The named Australians are 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 the submission to the ICC had been lodged and called for independent international investigations, arms embargoes and reparations for alleged victims. The statement said the flotilla aims to challenge the systemic impunity of the Israeli regime.

At least 67 people suffered injuries during detention that required further medical evaluation at a state hospital, and another 12 participants were hospitalised, according to an earlier flotilla statement.

Several detainees who returned to Australia last week publicly alleged they were subjected to beatings, torture and sexual assault while in Israeli custody. The Israel Defense Forces stated that its orders require respectful and appropriate treatment of flotilla participants and that there are clear and established procedures in this regard.

The IDF added that no specific incidents of deviation from these binding procedures are known within the force.

Australian lawyer Bernadette Zaydan, part of the legal team helping activists present evidence to the ICC in The Hague, said the submission marked the beginning of accountability for survivors. Flotilla participant Ms Lamont said if Australian survivors can be heard in The Hague but not in Canberra, something has gone badly wrong.

The flotilla's legal action coincided with the United Nations adding Israel to a blacklist of 77 international parties suspected of committing sexual violence in conflict zones.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in his annual report to the UN Security Council that the UN had documented in 2025 patterns of sexual violence against Palestinians detained in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. The report documented 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.

Thirteen of those cases happened in 2025 while 18 others date from 2023 and 2024.

The report also included accusations of sexual violence committed by Hamas against six hostages. Guterres said the UN had been unable to independently verify the reports of sexual violence by Hamas because the Israeli government continued to deny investigators access. Hamas was already included on the UN blacklist.

Israel's foreign ministry announced it would sever all ties with Guterres. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon said placing Israel alongside Hamas marked a new low and called it a political decision. The foreign ministry said it had comprehensively, thoroughly, and unequivocally refuted the allegations and described the UN decision as another example of the UN's long-standing, institutionalised hostility toward Israel.

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir posted a video appearing to show detainees kneeling on the ground with their hands restrained behind their backs while he taunted them. The Australian government summoned Israel's ambassador and sanctioned Ben-Gvir. Foreign Minister Penny Wong described his actions as shocking and unacceptable.

Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, condemned Ben-Gvir's actions but rejected allegations that the flotilla crew had been harmed. He said any past or current allegations of violence and sexual assault were untrue. According to Gaza health authorities, more than 72,000 Palestinians have died since the start of the Israel-Gaza war.

About 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed in Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack on Israel, according to Israeli officials.