Beatings and rubber bullets: Onboard the flotilla intercepted by Israel
5/6/202617 min
A flotilla of boats carrying aid towards Gaza was still hundreds of kilometres from the coast when the Israeli navy moved in.
Australian activist Zack Schofield was on one of the 50 boats. He says the first sign something was coming was the sound of drones overhead; then radio warnings, military vessels, and soldiers boarding the ship.
What happened next is now the subject of serious allegations and competing accounts.
Today, Zack Schofield on the interception at sea, what he says happened in Israeli custody, and why the flotilla may still try to reach Gaza.
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Guest: Australian activist, Zach Schofield
Photo: Supplied
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First 90 secondsSpeaker 0· Soundbite0:00
You're required to change your course. Any further attempt to sail toward Gaza places your safety at risk and leaves the IDF no choice but to take all necessary measures at its disposal to enforce the lawful maritime security blockade A flotilla of boats carrying aid towards Gaza was still hundreds of kilometers from the coast when the Israeli Navy moved in.
Daniel James· Host0:21
[drones buzzing] [shouting] [drone buzzing] Australian activist Zach Schofield was on one of the 50 boats. He says the first sign something was up was when he heard the sound of drones overhead, then radio warnings, military vessels, and soldiers boarding the ship. What happened next is now the subject of serious allegations and competing accounts.
Zach Schofield· Guest0:46
My nose is probably broken, and my ribs are hurting bad, and probably something maybe, maybe also broken, I don't know, and my leg also. They were kicking, and they were punching, and they were drag, dragging us over the floor, and we even heard them shooting at people.
Daniel James· Host1:05
[somber music] I'm Daniel James, and you're listening to 7.a.m. Today, Zach Schofield on the interception at sea, what he says happened in Israeli custody, and why the flotilla may still try to reach Gaza. It's Thursday, May 7.