Unionists for Palestine Queensland
| Statement of Solidarity with the Global Sumud Flotilla
The Global Sumud Flotilla carries humanitarian workers and activists from 44 countries on fifty boats. Its mission is morally and legally righteous – to establish amhumanitarian corridor and break the 18-year blockade on Gaza as a step towards ending the famine and genocide.
Over 17,400 Palestinian children have died in the genocide. Hundreds of thousands of Australians have protested in response to the atrocities and enforced famine.
Queensland Maritime Union of Australia member, Hamish Paterson, who is captaining one of the vessels in the flotilla, said. “if ordinary civilians can deliver aid, there is no excuse for governments to remain inactive while genocide continues”.
Hamish is joined on the flotilla by Australian filmmaker Juliet Lamont and her daughters Isla and Luca, Hobart wife and mother of four, Julia Henry, and activist Abubakir Rafiq as part of the eight strong Australian delegations.
Hamish said “as a long-term member of the MUA and the trade union movement, I see this as a continuation of our proud tradition of international solidarity and peace.”
The danger to the Australian citizens is growing. Last Wednesday ten ships in the flotilla were targeted with drone attacks. Francesca Albanese has called for “immediate
international attention and protection” for the flotilla following the attacks.
The Israeli military killed nine civilians when a similar flotilla attempted to break the blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid in 2010. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has
smeared the Global Sumud Flotilla, accusing it of serving Hamas. The danger to the flotilla increases daily.
Urgent Australian government response needed
Unionists for Palestine Qld demands that the Australian government act immediately and with unwaveringly to protect Australian citizens on the Global Sumud Flotilla, by:
making an immediate public statement denouncing in the strongest possible terms any potential lsraeli aggression against the flotilla
emphatically attesting to the rights under international law for the Australian citizens on the flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.
notifying the lsraeli government that Australia will, in the event of harm caused by the Israeli state to Australian citizens, respond in the strongest manner diplomatically and in relation to trade.
Call for union solidarity
Unionists for Palestine Queensland calls on our union leaders to organise immediate practical solidarity with the flotilla by:
affirming the above demands directly with the Australian government; and
making public statements expressing solidarity with the flotilla and supporting the flotilla’s legally legitimate and morally righteous actions; and
issuing membership bulletins explaining the importance of solidarity with the flotilla, in particular with the eight Australian civilians on board, at this moment of increasing peril.
Unionists for Palestine Qld can be contacted by email: unionists4palestinegld@gmail.com.
GLOBAL
SUMUD
FLOTILLA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BREAKING: GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA
INTERCEPTED BY ISRAELI NAVAL FORCES
October 1, 2025
On Wednesday, 1 October 2025 at around 8:30 pm Gaza time, multiple vessels of
Global Sumud Flotilla-notibly Alma, Surius, Adara were illegally intercepted and
boarded by lsraeli Occupation Forces in international waters. Prior to illegally
boarding the ships, it appears as though the lsraeli naval vessels intentionally
damaged ship communications, in an attempt to block distress signals and stop the
live-stream of their illegal boat boarding. In addition to the boats confirmed to be
intercepted, live-stream coverage and communication has been lost with multiple
other boats. We are diligently working to account for all participants and crew. We will
share updates as soon as we have confirmed information about the status of boats,
detentions, injuries and potential casualties.
This is an illegal attack on unarmed humanitarians in international waters. We call on
governnments, world leaders, and international institutions to demand the safety and
release of all on board and continue to monitor this situation closely.
Despite interception of a few vessels, the Global Sumud Flotilla is 70 nautical miles
away from the Gaza coastline and will continue undeterred.
Media Contact:
Hasina Kathrada: +44 1414 620 950
Email: media@globalsumudflotilla.org
Instagram/Telegram: @globalsumudflotilla
https://workersbushtelegraph.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/screenshot_20251001_192014_facebook254637792525220097.jpg
A spokesman for the Maghreb branch of the Global Sumud Flotilla that is heading to Gaza said early Wednesday that an Israeli naval maneuver to intercept the flotilla failed and that the ships ignored the attempt against lead vessels and continued toward Gaza.
Wael Naouar said through the US social media company Facebook that the Israeli navy first tried to block the lead ship Alma, but the rest of the flotilla passed unopposed. He described a second attempt when Israeli forces redirected toward another lead vessel, Sirius, only to be again bypassed by the remaining ships.
“The Zionist (Israeli) vessels today intercepted Alma, the lead ship, but the other ships ignored Alma and continued toward Gaza,” Naouar said. He added that when the flotilla regrouped around Sirius, the Israeli navy shifted focus there but was met with the same result as “the rest of the flotilla ignored Sirius and continued their journey to Gaza.”
Israeli warships then tried to penetrate the flotilla from multiple sides to disperse it, but that all ships maneuvered and stayed on course, he said, describing the interception attempts as a test of the flotilla’s resolve: “Even if you stop 47 vessels, the 48th will continue on to Gaza.”
Earlier in the day, a large warship was spotted near the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla as its organizers reported a state of high alert at sea.
Contact has been restored with the Alma ship after being lost for a short time, said an Al Jazeera correspondent on board the flotilla.
According to the correspondent, an Israeli vessel came within just five feet of the Alma, and jammed all of its communication systems, as well as its engine, rendering them inoperative.
He added that participants on board the Alma threw their phones into the sea in line with the established security protocols.
The correspondent later reported that the Israeli vessel had left the area, allowing the flotilla to resume its course toward the shores of the Gaza Strip.
The flotilla, which is sailing to challenge Israel’s blockade of Gaza, announced that its vessels are now about 121 nautical miles from the besieged enclave.
The Israeli army has killed over 66,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza since October 2023. The relentless bombardment has rendered the enclave uninhabitable and led to starvation and the spread of diseases.
1 October 2025
GLOBAL
SUMUD
FLOTILLA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DANGEROUS NAVAL AGGRESSION AGAINST OUR
HUMANITARIAN FLOTILLA
October 1, 2025
International waters- In the early hours of this morning, Israeli occupation naval
forces launched an intimidatory operation against the Global Sumud Flotilla.
One of our lead vessels, Alma, was aggressively circled by an Israeli warship for several
minutes. During the incident, on board communications, including our closed circuit
broadcasts, were remotely disabled and the naval vessel steered dangerously close,
forcing the captain to take a sharp evasive maneuver to prevent a frontal collision.
Shortly after, the same naval vessel targeted Sirius, repeating similar harassing
maneuvers for an extended period of time- before finally departing.
These reckless and intimidatory maneuvers placed participants at serious risk. The
Global Sumud Flotilla is a peaceful, nonviolent mission carrying humanitarian aid and
civilians from over 40 countries. Interfering with our passage is unlawful and any
attack or interception constitutes a war crime.
Despite these acts of aggression, the flotilla continues its course with determination.
Our mission remains clear: to challenge Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza, stand with the
Palestinian people, and deliver aid to a besieged population facing starvation and
genocide.
Footage: https//ldrive.google.com/drive/foldershjauozTmskjJgwm69x1ZEulhHg75
gsHG?usp=share link.
Media Contact:
Hasina Kathrada: +441414 620 950
Email: media@globalsumudflotilla.org
Instagram/Telegram: @globalsumudflotilla
The headling ‘quote’ from the BBC doesn’t imply an overly positive initial response from Hamas (although there’s nothing unreasonable in it, but it is also the BBC which is a very long way from ‘neutral’, and like some Australian media has just straight-up made up ‘quotes’ purporting to be from Hamas leaders in the past)
But the story as whole does indicate that Hamas are involved in considerations of a Palestinian response.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2j97jldkmo?cid=67232ec2c3a2d807a3a9c8458b6d527d
“If Hamas gives up the hostages, we are all dead.” Palestinian in Gaza 1 Oct 2025. … https://www-aljazeera-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/liveblog/2025/9/30/live-israel-kills-39-in-gaza-as-hamas-reviews-trumps-proposal-to-end-war?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D