2025-10-08
8 October 2025
Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, is demanding immediate intervention from Foreign Minister Wong, as Israel once again intercepts brave humanitarians attempting to break Israel’s illegal blockade of Gaza.
The Freedom Flotilla, which includes the boat Conscience and follows the recent Sumud Flotilla, is carrying doctors and journalists to Gaza to deliver desperately needed medical expertise and supplies, in light of Israel killing over 200 journalists and bombing more than 30 hospitals in Gaza since the beginning of the genocide.
In the last hour, the brave humanitarians aboard the Freedom Flotilla - which includes at least one Australian, Madeleine Habib - have reported being surrounded and intercepted by the Israeli military, around 120 nautical miles from Gaza, in international waters and in direct contravention of international law.
Lines attributable to Senator Mehreen Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and spokesperson for International Aid & Global Justice:
“We should have never come to this. Western Governments have utterly failed to stop Israel’s genocide, starvation, and devastation in Gaza, and it has fallen to ordinary citizens to take it upon themselves to attempt to stop Israel’s war crimes and deliver desperately needed aid to Gaza.
“It is disgraceful that the brave Australians aboard these flotillas have been abandoned by their government. Prime Minister Albanese and Foreign Minister Wong need to publicly stand up for their citizens and stand up against Israel breaking international law after international law.
“Following the reports of disgusting abuse directed at the Australians abducted from the Sumud Flotilla, I am horrified to think what may await the humanitarians aboard the Freedom Flotilla.
“It has been two years of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and we are still waiting for our government to act. Every day that our government fails to act, Israel kills more Palestinians.
“The boats will not stop until Israel’s genocide, occupation, and apartheid stops. The humanitarians aboard these boats have stood up where our governments have failed, and we are with them all the way.”