Aussie Gaza flotilla detainees say alleged abuse hasn’t deterred them after arriving in Sydney, Melbourne

Australians detained by Israel for trying to sail aid into Gaza have vowed to do it again, despite alleging “dystopian” conditions and human rights abuses while in captivity.

Juliet Lamont, Hamish Paterson and Abubakir Rafiq received a hero’s welcome after arriving back home to Sydney on Friday morning, after more than a month at sea with the Global Sumud Flotilla.

Fellow Australian Bianca Webb-Pullman arrived back in Melbourne, still clad in her grey prison tracksuit, and rushed into the arms of her mother and her partner.

The quartet’s ships were intercepted off the Gazan coast and the group were detained in Israel, where some allege they were assaulted and threatened, then deported to Jordan.

Mr Rafiq called the interception a “kidnapping and abduction”, further alleging the detainees were tortured, kicked, punched and spat on while also being denied clean drinking water, medication and access to a lawyer.

“Your fear tactics, your campaign slogans and (calling us) terrorists, don’t mean anything to us, we do not fear you,” he said, from Sydney airport arrivals lounge.

“While we were in prison, every day we were chanting Free Palestine, banging on the doors and we broke the soldiers.

“They wanted us to leave because they are used to using their force against the Palestinians and threatening to kill them.”

Ms Lamont, a filmmaker, alleged sexual assaults occurred in custody but wanted the focus on the next effort to provide much-needed aid to Palestine, promising it would be bigger.

“We are going back, and we’re going to take 150 boats this time,” she said.

“We will break the illegal siege on Gaza, we will deliver humanitarian aid, and we will show Palestinians solidarity and love.”

Dr Webb-Pullman, a local GP, described her treatment in Israel as “dystopian” and alleged that dozens of prisoners were caged together and denied medical care.

She said she watched Swedish activist Greta Thunberg being dragged on the ground and psychological measures were used against prisoners.

“It’s shameful, it’s disgusting and it’s totally unacceptable for anybody to be treated like that but particularly while we were there, we’re a humanitarian mission,” Dr Webb-Pullman told reporters.

AAP has contacted Israel’s defence ministry for comment.

Israel denied allegations of abuse when questioned previously by other media.

Ms Lamont, Mr Paterson and Mr Rafiq had two consular visits while in prison in Israel, but said a lack of officials meant the Australians were the last prisoners to be released after being processed to Jordan.

After her daughter’s experience, Julie Webb-Pullman has urged the Australian government to impose sanctions and cut ties with Israel until it complies with international law.

The Maritime Union of Australia, of which fellow flotilla participant Mr Paterson is a member, echoed these calls as they welcomed his return.

The historically progressive union has faced pressure from some members to follow their Italian counterparts, who implemented a nationwide strike on ports to stop the shipment of arms and supplies to Israel.

The federal government insists it has not exported weapons or military parts to Israel since October 2023, even though Australia is part of the global supply chain for F-35 fighter jets accessed by Israel.

The union’s deputy national secretary urged the government to end any trade in arms bound for Israel.

“If wharfies knew they were handling arms bound for Israel ... they wouldn’t touch them,” Warren Smith said.

Israel’s government on Friday ratified a ceasefire with the Palestinian militant group Hamas, clearing the way to suspend hostilities in Gaza within 24 hours.