Five Australians detained as government asks Israel for details after Gaza aid flotilla halted

Australians detained by Israel while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza could soon receive help from the federal government.

Australia has made a formal request to Israeli authorities for consular access to its citizens and information about how they have been detained, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Five Australians, who were taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, are believed to be in custody after Israeli forces intercepted almost all 42 vessels in the fleet.

“I get that Australians want to see aid flow, particularly basic aid like food and medicines to civilians in Gaza,” Health Minister Mark Butler told Sunrise on Friday.

“We have provided clear advice for Australians not to take part in these attempts to break the naval blockade because of the obvious safety risks that are involved.

“We’ve put in a formal request to Israeli authorities.”

Consular assistance could include visits to prisons to monitor welfare, liaising with local authorities about their wellbeing, providing local legal contacts and assistance with communication between family members.

But the federal department has reportedly encountered some difficulties.

Julie Webb-Pullman, whose daughter was aboard one of the intercepted vessels, told AAP the department was experiencing difficulty contacting officials because of the Yom Kippur holiday in Israel.

Footage livestreamed from Bianca Webb-Pullman’s boat on Thursday showed officers boarding with weapons raised as life jacket-clad protesters raised their hands.

Sydney man Abubakir Rafiq was on another boat named Spectre, while Juliet Lamont and Hamish Paterson were on the Wahoo and Surya McEwen was aboard MiaMia - all of which are believed to have been intercepted.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry, which has branded the flotilla’s mission a “provocation”, says all are “safe and in good health”.

“They are making their way safely to Israel, from where they will be deported to Europe,” it said on social media.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has continued to urge Israel to enable the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“Australia calls on all parties to respect international law, to ensure the safety and humane treatment of those involved,” a spokesperson said in a statement.

Liberal senator Jane Hume urged concerned Australians to help through aid organisations like Oxfam, Save the Children and UNICEF.

But many humanitarian organisations are struggling to deliver food and medicine because Israel has continued to throttle aid into Gaza.

Famine has been declared in the territory since August and more than 641,000 people are facing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, according to the United Nations figures.

As of Friday morning, the flotilla’s tracker shows one boat is still sailing about 80 nautical miles from the territory.

Israel has vowed to block its access.