Eleven Australian activists who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla crew detained by Israel are now in Türkiye.Israel said it had deported all the foreign activists seized by its forces on Thursday, local time, as the first group arrived in Türkiye following global outcry over their treatment in custody.Minister for Social Services Tanya Plibersek told ABC News Breakfast the 11 Australians were in Istanbul and being assisted by Australians officials.She was not able to confirm if they were injured or dealing with illness after their detention.The 11 Australians who were detained are Neve O'Connor, Sam Woripa Watson, Anny Mokotow, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, Bianca Webb-Pullman, Gemma O'Toole, Violet Coco and Helen O'Sullivan.Upon arrival in Istanbul, activist Ms Lamont said it was "chaos" in the airport as they tried to regroup with other members of the flotilla.Mr Schofield said the group of activists were "taken to prison and treated really poorly"."Many of us haven't eaten for days," he said, speaking at Istanbul Airport to local media."I have friends that were shocked with tasers, stun guns for extended periods of time just on entry to prison, were beaten."Australian activists Zack Schofield, Neve O'Connor and Isla Lamont. (Supplied: Palestinian-Australian Global Sumud Flotilla media)A spokesperson for the group said the Australian activists were currently going through health checks at a local hospital.They are expected to return to Australia in the coming days.422 activists releasedHundreds of activists from countries around the world were placed in detention in Israel after they were intercepted at sea on Monday while making the latest in a string of attempts to break the blockade of the Palestinian territory.Activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla were flown to Türkiye. (Reuters: Murad Sezer)Turkish foreign ministry sources said 422 activists, among them 85 Turkish nationals, were flown from southern Israel on three planes chartered by Ankara.Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, sparked widespread condemnation and a diplomatic backlash by posting a video showing the detained activists with their hands tied and foreheads on the ground.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the interception of the flotilla but said Mr Ben-Gvir's treatment of the activists was "not in line with Israel's values and norms".Israel's ambassador to Australia, Hillel Newman, said Israel's leadership condemned the actions of Mr Ben-Gvir."The prime minister of Israel, the foreign minister of Israel, [they] have all condemned thoroughly the actions of Ben-Gvir," he said.Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir points at flotilla activists being detained by Israeli forces. (Supplied: Office Of Itamar Ben Gvir/Handout)Israel's foreign ministry spokesman, Oren Marmorstein, said that "all foreign activists from the PR flotilla have been deported from Israel"."Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza," he added.Upon arrival at Istanbul airport, one of the activists shouted, "The Palestinian people are not alone," as he emerged from the terminal."We've been tortured, we've been beaten, we've been arrested in international waters, but we won't give up. We will return. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," he said to cheers from the crowd.
Eleven Australian flotilla activists released from Israeli detention
Social Services Minister Tanya Plibersek has told ABC News Breakfast that the 11 Australians are now in Istanbul and are being assisted by Australian officials.










