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The family of a Newcastle man among at least six Australians onboard boats that were intercepted by Israeli navy personnel in international waters has issued a tearful plea for his safety and lashed out at the Australian government for not intervening.
More than 50 boats set sail to Gaza from Italy on Monday as part of the Global Sumud flotilla in the hope of delivering 500 tonnes of aid and volunteers to the Gaza Strip, which remains under naval blockade by Israel.
Among those onboard the ships were 14 Australian citizens. On Thursday afternoon, Alexa Stewart, a spokesperson for the flotilla, said just two Australians – Jews Against the Occupation member Anny Mokotow and Brisbane resident Sam Watson – remained in communication and were still sailing to Gaza after 22 boats were intercepted in international waters west of the Greek island of Crete.
Stewart has alleged at least six Australians have been detained by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), including Newcastle climate activist Zack Schofield, University of Sydney student and Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa and Wailwan man Ethan Floyd, Neve O’Connor, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Surya McEwen and Cameron Tribe.
Schofield’s partner, Sarah, said on Thursday that she wanted “every Australian to understand how scary this is”.
“I got a text message telling me that he was OK and he loved me,” she said. “Then 15 minutes later I saw a video of him being abducted. How would you feel if that was your partner? Or your son? … How would you feel?”
CCTV footage posted online showed members of the IDF boarding the six Australians’ vessels. Afterwards, pre-recorded messages were published to social media announcing they had been “kidnapped … against my will”.
The remaining vessels carrying Australians had lost communication for at least four hours and were presumed to have been intercepted.
The Guardian has not independently confirmed whether the Australians are now detained by Israel or the status of the vessels.
The Israeli foreign ministry posted to X that it had found condoms and drugs onboard the “PR stunt flotillas”, a claim disputed by the flotilla’s media spokespeople.
Schofield’s parents, Joanne and Peter Schofield, said they were attempting to contact the foreign minister, Penny Wong.
“He’s on the flotilla because he is kind, smart and caring,” Joanne said between tears.
She said it was their expectation that the Australian government would “do everything they can” to secure the activists’ safety.
“I’m really upset, this is very, very frightening,” she said.
“I’m furious that our government hasn’t called me back yet, hasn’t said anything to how they’re ensuring … the Australians are safe, are being treated well, and will be released safely immediately … I want a response and I want it right now.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said officials were “urgently seeking an update” from Israeli authorities and were “ready to provide consular assistance to any affected Australians”.
But they said their “ability to provide support in Israel and Palestine is limited at this time due to the conflict in the Middle East”.
“We continue to urge Australians not to join others seeking to break the Israeli naval blockade as they will be putting themselves and others at risk of injury, death, arrest or deportation,” they said.
In a statement, the Global Sumud flotilla alleged activists, who are representing 55 countries, had been “threatened at gunpoint” while “engaged in legally protected activity under international maritime law”.
“Earlier, multiple flotilla boats reported radio communications jamming. Military drones and vessels were sighted. An [Israel occupation forces] vessel ordered the flotilla to divert aid through Israeli-controlled channels,” they said.
The previous Sumud flotilla in October 2025 resulted in seven Australians being detained by IDF, including McEwen.
Wong, the Israeli foreign ministry and the Israeli embassy were approached for comment. The Times of Israel reported that “security sources” confirmed the Israeli navy began intercepting the flotilla late on Wednesday.
