Media Release 16.6.26
AUSTRALIA JOINS THE UN, FRANCE AND ITALY IN INVESTIGATING ISRAEL FOR TORTURE AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE AGAINST CITIZENS
"No one should be surprised."
Australian flotilla survivors today welcomed a commitment from Foreign Minister Penny Wong for an Australian investigation into allegations of physical, psychological and sexual violence by Israel.
Participants said the investigation was long overdue and reflected years of evidence gathered by Palestinians, human rights organisations and the United Nations.
Quote - Neve O’Connor
"Nobody should be surprised that Australia is investigating Israel. Israel's Prime Minister is wanted to stand trial for war crimes. The state is defending allegations of genocide before the world's highest court. The United Nations has declared Israel guilty of patterns of torture and sexual violence.
Now Australians have faced the same brutality. Israel is a rogue criminal state - they are violent and dangerous. The real question is not why Australia is investigating Israel.
The real question is why it took so long."
Quote - Juliet Lamont
"Palestinians have been warning the world about torture, sexual violence for decades. The United Nations have documented it. Human rights organisations documented it.
Justice is catching up with this dangerous rogue state, Israel, and prosecutions are coming. Survivors of sexual violence deserve justice, and that includes Palestinians.”
Quote - Surya McEwen
“An Independent investigation is a start. Though we must ask why didn’t the IDF’s sexual assault of Australians last year spark an investigation? Or the mountain of evidence of ongoing rape and murder of Palestinians? Where do we draw the line on which survivors we care for?“
Quote - Gemma O’Toole
“I’m glad that Australia is launching an independent investigation into Israel’s actions. Into its systematic use of torture, violence and rape. But it should not have had to come to this. Palestinian hostages have been tortured and raped in Israeli prisons for decades. It’s still happening right now. This must stop.
Quote - Violet Coco:
“When Australia left Israel to investigate their killing Australian Humanitarian Zomi Frankcom, it yielded no justice. When the CCTV footage of a Palestinan prisoner being raped was broadcast on Israeli television in July 2024, Israel responded by dropping the charges of the five men involved.
We can not leave the perpetrators to investigate themselves.
So far Israel has proceeded with impunity, now even Australia will prosecute them for their crimes."
Quote - Greens Senator and Justice and Foreign Affairs spokesperson David Shoebridge
"These brave women forced Canberra to acknowledge the violence of the Israeli state and they forced an AFP investigation into the assaults on them.
"The government didn't lead on this, these women dragged them there with sheer courage.
"We'll be watching this inquiry closely including the timeframe, the resourcing and the transparency. The AFP need to take this as seriously as it warrants.
“The Albanese Government must demand full cooperation from the Israeli authorities including the provision of body worn and CCTV recordings of the crimes they committed."
Background -
Eleven Australians were among humanitarian volunteers attempting to deliver food, medicine and humanitarian aid to starving civilians in Gaza when they were kidnapped by Israeli authorities.
Following a meeting with the Foreign Minister, the Government committed to Investigate Israel for physical and sexual violence.
Participants welcomed the commitment as an important first step, while stressing that investigation alone is not justice and that prosecutions must follow.
Survivors said their experiences are just a glimpse into what Palestinians and human rights organisations have been reporting for decades and that the investigation should be understood in the context of serious international cases against Israel.
They noted that allegations involving Israeli leaders, military personnel and state institutions are already being examined through legal and accountability processes around the world, and that Global Sumud Flotilla legal team, which includes Australian Lawyers, is making a formal submission to the International Criminal Court.
The survivors said they would continue campaigning for rigorous accountability, transparency and justice.
Bios:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S3IJ1S6_iNYA5hCu2yJMctk0ngn5iEbE-T8bXzM8dPc/edit?usp=sharing
ICC Defendant Page – Benjamin Netanyahu
International Criminal Court – Benjamin Netanyahu
UN Secretary-General Report on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (2026)
UN Report (2026) – Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
UN Commission of Inquiry Report (March 2025)
UN Commission of Inquiry – Israel's systematic use of sexual and gender-based violence
AP / France referral to prosecutors
France asks prosecutors to investigate Israel's treatment of Gaza flotilla activists
Reuters – Italy investigating Ben-Gvir over flotilla abuse
Italian prosecutors investigate Ben-Gvir over flotilla allegations
Ends
Contact details:
Jane Salmon M: 0417 919 354 (Global Sumud Flotilla)
Subhi Awad M: 0408 760 991 (Global Sumud Flotilla)
For Juliet Lamont , Neve O’Connor, Anny Mokotow (all currently in Melbourne).
James Godfrey Signal: 0424 340 630 (Free Gaza Australia)
For Gemma O’Toole, Violet Coco (also in Melbourne)
Jessica Mamone M: 0418 187 382,
E: [email protected] (Global Sumud Flotilla)
For Surya McEwen in Northern Rivers
Kym Chapple for Senator David Shoebridge:
+61 433 680 244.
Patrick Keyzer, Lawyer, +61 408 671 276.
