I’ve been kidnapped for the second time by an increasingly desperate Israel

May 21, 2026 — 1:30pm

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Neve O’Connor is a Melbourne woman who is currently in the custody of the Israeli government after attempting to reach the Gaza Strip by boat as part of a protest flotilla carrying aid for Palestinians. She was previously detained by Israel on a separate attempt to reach Gaza on Wednesday, April 29, before being released. This is a piece she wrote a week ago to explain why she was setting off for Gaza again on the trip that led to her current detention.

I was one of six Australians unlawfully detained by the Israeli navy in the Mediterranean Sea on April 29. We were sailing in international waters with the Global Sumud Flotilla, unarmed and carrying humanitarian aid: baby formula, blankets, medicine.

Our fleet was approximately 1000 kilometres from the shores of Palestine, en route to a stop on the Greek island of Crete on our way to Gaza, sailing in the dead of night, when distress signals began coming in from other boats. Unknown vessels were approaching.

As flares went up, drones whirred overhead, and our communications were jammed, our crew scrambled. We didn’t anticipate an interception this far outside Israeli territory. Then I looked to my right and saw a huge white light beaming from a warship, scanning the sea, until it locked on us.

Within minutes, a swarm of heavily armed soldiers on speedboats surrounded us. This........

© Brisbane Times