BY CHARLIE PROUDLOCK.
At approximately 10am AEST on Thursday the 30th of May, a group of six Australians were captured from the Global Sumud Flotilla enroute to Gaza.
The Flotilla was reportedly loaded with more than 500 tonnes of medicine, food and other aid.
After departing from Italy earlier last week, the fleet was intercepted off Crete, with the group who organised the Flotilla claiming sabotage from the IDF.
They say this took the form of engine disabling and the destruction of navigational equipment.
Following their detention, the six Australians were held in Israeli custody for more than 30 hours before being freed overnight on Friday 1 May.
Of the six freed, activists Ethan Floyd, Zack Schofield, and Neve O'Connor were taken to Sitia General Hospital in Crete for treatment of injuries including concussion, bruising, and cuts.
The other three activists, Surya McEwen, Cameron Tribe and Bianca Webb-Pullman were the released without harm.
Mr. Floyd, Mr. Schofield, and Mr. Tribe are from the Hunter, with Mr. Floyd set to return home to Newcastle tonight (4th May 2026).
In videos posted to social media, Zac Schofield said he was beaten and tortured by the IDF prior to his release.
Rising Tide spokesman Campbell Knox said Mr. Schofield is reportedly planning to continue his mission of bringing aid to Gaza before he returns home.
"We can't ask him to not be himself," he said.
"We can't ask him to abandon his humanity and give up on this mission when he knows what he's doing is right and what he's doing is necessary."
Mr. Knox said Zac Schofield was aware of the risks.
"I know that he went in knowing that this could happen, knowing that these are the risks, but he knew despite those risks, it was worth it even if just one morsel of food could reach the people in Palestine," he said.
"He was willing to take that risk, put his life on the line, and I couldn't be more proud of him for that."
Mr. Knox and his Rising Tide compatriots are now calling on Newcastle MP Sharon Claydon to help kickstart a push to assist in bringing the remaining Australian activists home safely.
Apart from the Australians, 173 other global humanitarians were also freed, 30 of whom were also admitted to Sitia hospital for similar injuries.
Meanwhile, concern has also been raised around the whereabouts of Flotilla leaders Thiago Avila and Saif Abu Keshek, as they still remain unaccounted for.
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| Zack Schofield addresses media before embarking on humanitarian mission. Photo supplied. |
