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Australian activists held in Israeli custody have described experiencing what they call “degrading and humiliating treatment” after their arrest aboard a humanitarian convoy carrying aid to Gaza.

One detainee, Surya McEwen, claimed he was struck and suffered a shoulder injury and had his head slammed into the ground.

Medical Worries and Prison Conditions

A second activist, Lamont, voiced grave fear about her well-being, stating she was at risk of stroke after her prescription drugs were confiscated by Israeli security forces.

She portrayed the detention facility as “dystopian” and added that her request for additional drugs had not been fulfilled.

The two activists are among a group of Aussies confirmed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to have been taken into custody in Israel.

Officials stated they are providing support to the individuals, including through direct meetings.

Claims of Poor Conditions

The activists are being held in a high-security prison in the Negev desert and allege that they and fellow inmates were offered water that was contaminated due to a foul odor.

He informed consular staff that he had been held in a enclosure with dozens of individuals without food or water, while being exposed to verbal attacks from authorities.

Lamont stated that upon arriving the detention center, she was escorted to a room with female detainees and insulted by officials, who labeled them “militants”.

Interception and Handling Details

McEwen, aged 40, and the documentary film-maker, in her fifties, were arrested on last week when their Gaza-bound ships were intercepted by the Israeli navy.

They were part of the international aid mission comprising dozens of boats and more than 450 people, including lawmakers, legal experts, and activists.

Dfat officials met with the Aussie detainees on Friday.

According to a report reviewed by sources, he detailed “degrading and humiliating treatment” after being transferred to the port of Ashdod.

He stated that his morale was poor due to sleep deprivation techniques and physical intimidation from Israeli prison guards.

Relatives Worries and Medical Issues

McEwen’s parent, Jacinta McEwen, a former nurse, expressed she had been calling authorities for daily updates and was concerned about the “full-on” conditions her son was facing.

“I am concerned about his dislocated shoulder, head injury, and lack of medical attention,” she remarked.

McEwen thought her son’s deportation was being hindered because he declined to sign a document admitting he had breached immigration laws.

The flotilla maintains it was wrongfully stopped by the naval forces in international waters.

McEwen also told representatives that authorities had torn up pages of his travel document because it was electronically embedded.

Both activists threw their phones into the sea before their capture.

Differences in Arrest Accounts

Although he stated his detainment on board the Mia Mia was carried out with minimal force, Lamont – travelling on a separate boat – described a “humiliating” experience.

She claimed her hands were bound behind her back, she was sprayed with a high-pressure hose, and was left to sit in an stifling space with her hands tied and clothes soaked for seven hours.

During this time, she said her head was repeatedly shoved down by Israeli forces.

Prison Conditions and Medical Effects

Both are being held in the facility, which is primarily used to hold inmates, many of whom authorities accuses of engaging in unlawful acts.

After consular staff met with Lamont, they observed she was “deeply upset”, crying multiple times during the meeting.

The parent was reported as feeling thirsty, feeble, lightheaded, and confused.

She mentioned a official had informed her that tap water was unsafe to drink, and she believed her dehydration was worsening her hypertension.

On the day of her detainment, after her prescription was confiscated, Lamont explained a physician – after measuring her blood pressure – had given her a single tablet of medication.

But after Australian officials visited her, they reported she was feeling lethargic, confused, and lethargic, and concerned she was at danger of a health crisis.

Her request to consult a physician had received no response.

Global and Family Reactions

A spokesperson for the activist group expressed concern that her friend was at danger of succumbing without necessary drugs.

Julie Webb-Pullman of another detained Australian, her daughter, said she had obtained a call from Australian officials giving a summary of their visit to Ketziot prison.

Webb-Pullman reported that her child had been exposed to mistreatment, degradation, threats, and was man-handled and pushed.

She was also left in a open area in the sun for several hours with no protection, sustenance.

She further described a tap with contaminated water, meaning she had drunk no or little water in days.

Official Statements

Australian authorities responded to inquiries with a statement that declared the Australian government had “made clear to Israel our expectation that detainees will receive humane treatment in line with international norms”.

“We again urge Israel to allow continuous, unrestricted humanitarian aid to reach Gaza,” the statement continued.

Sources contacted Israel’s prison service, the military, the Israeli ministry for foreign affairs, and the Israeli embassy in Australia, but no one responded to a query.