Six Australians who found themselves detained by the Israeli military while endeavoring to deliver aid to Gaza have now been released after spending several tense days at sea.

These individuals were part of a larger group of over a hundred activists participating in the second Global Sumud Flotilla. This initiative represents one of numerous efforts by activist organizations to challenge the long-standing Israeli naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

The release of these flotilla members took place on the island of Crete. They were originally intercepted by the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) just off the coast of this Greek island on a Wednesday.

Among the released were three Australians—Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield, and Neve O’Connor—who were taken to a hospital following their release due to injuries they sustained. The flotilla organizers reported these injuries.

The trio alleged that they were victims of violence and received mistreatment while aboard the Israeli vessel. In a video message sent from Sitia hospital in Crete, they reassured supporters by saying, “We three are all physically okay as you can be after that experience.”

“We three are all physically okay as you can be after that experience,” the trio said in a video message from Sitia hospital in Crete.

Organisers said all 173 international activists were released except for two leaders of the flotilla: Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abu Keshek from Spain.

Floyd, Schofield and O’Connor said they would go on hunger strike until the health and whereabouts of the remaining detainees was confirmed.

Images posted by the Global Sumud Flotilla on X appear to show wounds inflicted on the activists, including bruising and gashes.

Israeli foreign affairs minister Gideon Sa’ar confirmed the vessels had been intercepted but insisted participants were unharmed.

“All participants in the provocative flotilla who were taken off the vessels were taken off unharmed,” he said on X.

The vessels were seized in international waters off Greece’s Peloponnese peninsula, hundreds of kilometres from Gaza, organisers said.

Organisers claim the IDF’s actions were unlawful as they occurred in international waters far from Gaza.

“This is piracy,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said in a statement.

“This is the unlawful seizure of human beings on the open sea near Crete, an assertion that Israel can operate with total impunity, far beyond its own borders, with no consequences.”

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oren Marmorstein said this week that “early action” was both necessary and legal under international law due to “the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade”.

The ministry later confirmed that the two remaining detainees had been brought to Israel for questioning.

“Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and Thiago Ávila suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning,” it said on X.

“We demand that all governments do all they can to pressure the Israeli regime to release all the illegal abductees,” the Global Sumud Flotilla said.

Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe and Bianca Webb-Pullman round out the six Australian detainees, among around 17 known to have been participating in the flotilla.

Seven Australians were detained by the IDF during the previous Sumud flotilla in October.

Israel controls access to the Gaza Strip and denies withholding supplies for its two million residents, with Israel’s main aid coordination agency regularly pointing to increased access via authorised pathways into the enclave since last October’s ceasefire.

However, numerous Palestinian and international aid bodies — including Doctors Without Borders and the Red Crescent Society — say humanitarian supplies to the territory remain insufficient.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which has been contacted, has previously urged Australians not to participate in breaches of Israel’s blockade.

Sydneysiders are set to paddle across Sydney Harbour on Sunday to show support for the flotilla.

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