‘If I die … it was worth it’: Aussie’s text from Gaza-bound boat
Six Australians trying to deliver food and aid to ravaged Gaza are at risk as Israel intercepts an international aid flotilla.
Source: Global Sumud Flotilla
The mother of an Australian onboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla will not forgive the Albanese government “if” her daughter dies at the hands of the Israeli military.
Bianca Webb-Pullman is one of six Australians aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of more than 30 boats being intercepted by Israel off the coast of the Palestinian territory.
Her vessel has reportedly been rammed by Israeli forces, while Sydney man Abubakir Rafiq is believed to have been travelling on the Spectre when it was intercepted in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Dr Webb-Pullman is still en route to Gaza but as the danger rises, she has sent one last message to her mother before throwing her phone overboard.
“Even if I die, don’t worry, it was still 100 per cent worth it,” she told her mum.
Her mother Julie Webb-Pullman has continued to receive updates from the flotilla’s family liaison but said the Australian government’s response has been “reprehensible”.
“No parent wants to see their child die,” she told AAP.
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“If she has to die because this government is not doing what it should be doing, then that’s an indictment of the government and I will not forgive them.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has advised Australians not to travel to Palestine since the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas on Israel, which sparked the conflicted engulfing Gaza, and has added specific advice around sea access to the besieged strip.
“There is no sea access to Gaza. Israel has a naval blockade in place along the coast of Gaza. Don’t join others seeking to break the blockade,” DFAT’s Smart Traveller website says.
“Previous attempts to break the blockade have resulted in death, injury, arrest or deportation of foreigners.”
DFAT also advises “extremely limited” ability to provide consular assistance in Palestine.
To those in the flotilla, the desperate humanitarian landscape in Gaza makes the aid mission worthwhile.
Juliet Lamont, another Australian in the flotilla, said about 30 Israeli boats had surrounded the flotilla and was pounding boats with water cannons, before attempting to board.
“It gets light at three, so we’re basically just going to ride it out for five hours,” she told ABC Sydney radio.
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“It does seem at this stage they are unprepared to sink the vessels or to kill anyone.
“We’ve just got to keep steadfast, keep dodging them, keep moving forward.”
A Gold Coast man previously onboard the flotilla when his vessel was hit by a drone in early September also criticised Australia’s response on Wednesday.
“I was sleeping on the top deck, and I woke up to a ball of flames,” Yusuf Omar said.
“After the drone strike … I have heard nothing from the Australian government – no email, no phone call, no check-up.”
Prior to the interceptions, Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said he was concerned about the safety about Australians on the flotilla and called on Israel to refrain from “any unlawful or violent act against the flotilla”.
“I’m deeply concerned by the alleged drone attacks on the Global Sumud Flotilla and the risks to the safety of Australians and other passengers onboard,” he said in a statement.
“We understand people are distressed and want to respond to the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza – we also want to see critical aid being delivered.”
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said several vessels had been “safely stopped” and its passengers, including activist Greta Thunberg, had been transferred to an Israeli port.
“The flotilla (was) refused because they are not interested in aid, but in provocation,” it wrote in a post on social media.
Israel has been throttling aid into Gaza for months, leaving more than 641,000 people facing catastrophic levels of starvation, according to United Nations data.
-with AAP
