Extract from ABC News
Zack Schofield has told ABC News some of his crew members were beaten and shot point-blank with rubber bullets. (ABC News)
In short:
Zack Schofield was one of six Australians detained this past week by the Israeli navy after taking part in the Global Sumud Flotilla, an attempt to break Israel's blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid to the territory.
He alleges he and his crewmates endured a violent and distressing ordeal during their time in Israeli custody, and says he witnessed at least 10 of his fellow crew members being heavily beaten.
What's next?
Mr Schofield is now on the Greek island of Crete, where he was taken to hospital after being released by the IDF, but says he intends to continue to sail on to Gaza as part of the flotilla.
An Australian activist detained by Israeli officials after joining a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza has described what he says was a violent and distressing ordeal at sea that left many of his crewmates injured.
Zack Schofield was one of three Australians taken to hospital on Friday after being released by Israeli authorities on the Greek island of Crete, having spent up to the previous 40 hours detained on board an Israeli ship.
"All of my crew were placed in stress positions and forced to walk with our heads down; we were grabbed by our hair and moved around the ship," Mr Schofield told the ABC on Saturday night.
"We were very forcefully searched, multiple times, and had all of our possessions stolen [or] thrown in the ocean — and our boat was sunk, including all of our possessions on board."
Mr Schofield said he was lucky compared with some of his fellow crew members, estimating at least 10 or 12 people suffered concussions or broken ribs, and that he saw some people shot by rubber bullets at point-blank range.
"I witnessed violence perpetrated against many of my friends," he said.
"A friend of mine from the American delegation was taken into a shipping container and beaten by three Israeli soldiers with the butts of their rifles and batons, and was kicked repeatedly in the testicles.
"I saw elderly men shot at point-blank range with rubber bullets. I saw a young woman, part of my crew, punched in the ribs about 10 or 11 times.
"I accompanied her to hospital when we landed in Crete. She is very injured."
The ABC has not independently verified Mr Schofield's claims, and a spokesperson from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied any of the flotilla's passengers had been mistreated.
"During the process of transferring the passengers to Greek forces, a number of passengers refused the transfer and began rioting violently," the spokesperson said.
"In order to address the violence and complete the transfer, a policing unit operating aboard IDF vessels was compelled to use force to move some of the passengers who were violently resisting.
"At no point were the passengers mistreated, and all use of force was in direct response to violence and physical resistance on the part of the rioters."
IDF 'flooded deck' to wake crew, activist says
Mr Schofield said while some of the crew had slept inside shipping containers on board the Israeli ship, he was forced to sleep outside.
"There wasn't room for everyone [in the shipping containers], so myself and others were made to sleep outside on rubber mats with no blankets or any protection from the elements," he said.
"The Israelis flooded the deck with sea water at least a couple of times on the ship every night, to wake us up and make sure our mats were wet."
Greek Coast Guard vessels took the crew members from an Israeli vessel. (Reuters: Stefanos Rapanis)
Israeli authorities accused the activists of engaging in a "PR stunt", labelling them "professional provocateurs" and claiming the Global Sumud Flotilla's mission was being led by Hamas.
"We are trying to get food and medicine to Gaza. We are not trying to seek attention, we are trying to provide material support," Mr Schofield told the ABC.
"I'm not sure how anyone could argue we are just doing this to gain attention.
"The fact Israel travelled over 1,000 kilometres through international waters west of Crete to attack us and detain us … is unfathomable."
Mr Schofield is still in Crete, but says he intends to continue to sail on to Gaza as part of the flotilla.
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