Seven Australian activists who joined a flotilla that tried to land in Gaza have been released from Israel and deported to Jordan after making claims of violent physical abuse during their detention in a high-security prison.
The Australians arrived safely in Jordan after five days of uncertainty about their safety during their captivity, with their lawyers saying they were subjected to threats of violence and sleep deprivation from Israeli authorities.
The Israeli foreign ministry called the flotilla a “publicity stunt” and said the activists were given their legal rights after being intercepted last week trying to reach the Gaza shoreline.
According to Amnesty International, the seven Australian citizens who were held at the Ketziot prison in the Negev desert were Abubakir Rafiq, Juliet Lamont, Hamish Paterson, Surya McEwen, Bianca Webb-Pullman, Cameron Tribe and Dan Adler.
The Australian lawyer representing the seven, Jennifer Robinson of Doughty Street Chambers in London, confirmed their release. Some of the group’s supporters in Australia also confirmed their arrival in Jordan on Tuesday night, AEST.
“We welcome the release of our clients today – the seven Australian humanitarians – and are grateful to the Australian government for their work to facilitate their release and for the consular support they have received,” Robinson told this masthead.
“We remain deeply concerned by the human rights violations
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