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Australian activists held in Israeli custody have reported experiencing what they call “demeaning and insulting conditions” following their detainment onboard a humanitarian convoy carrying aid to Gaza.

One detainee, Surya McEwen, stated he was struck and suffered a dislocated arm and had his head slammed into the ground.

Health Concerns and Detention Environment

A second activist, Lamont, voiced grave fear about her health, stating she was at danger of a medical emergency after her prescription drugs were confiscated by authorities.

She portrayed the prison environment as “dystopian” and added that her appeal for additional drugs had not been met.

The two activists are among a group of Aussies confirmed by Australian officials to have been taken into custody in Israel.

Officials mentioned they are offering consular assistance to the detainees, including through in-person visits.

Allegations of Poor Conditions

They are being detained in a high-security prison in the Negev desert and allege that they and other detainees were given water that was undrinkable due to a strong chemical taste.

McEwen informed Australian officials that he had been kept in a cage with dozens of individuals without food or water, while being exposed to verbal attacks from authorities.

She reported that upon reaching Ketziot prison, she was escorted to a room with other women and berated by officials, who called them “militants”.

Arrest and Handling Information

McEwen, in his forties, and Lamont, 54 years old, were arrested on last week when their Gaza-bound ships were stopped by the Israeli navy.

They were part of the international aid mission comprising 42 vessels and more than 450 people, including parliamentarians, legal experts, and activists.

Dfat officials met with the Aussie detainees on Friday.

Based on a account reviewed by media outlets, he detailed “degrading and humiliating treatment” after being taken to the port of Ashdod.

He explained that his spirits was low due to sleep deprivation techniques and threatening conduct from Israeli prison guards.

Family Concerns and Medical Problems

His mother, Jacinta, a former nurse, expressed she had been calling Dfat for daily updates and was worried about the “intense” situation her son was facing.

“If he’s got a dislocated shoulder and he’s had a head injury and he hasn’t received any medical aid, I’m worried about that,” she remarked.

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

The flotilla maintains it was illegally intercepted by the naval forces in international waters.

McEwen also told representatives that Israeli soldiers had torn up pages of his passport because it was microchipped.

Both individuals discarded their phones into the sea before their capture.

Differences in Detainment Accounts

Although McEwen said his detainment on board the Mia Mia was carried out with little violence, Lamont – travelling on a separate boat – described a “demeaning” experience.

She alleged her hands were zip-tied behind her back, she was sprayed with a high-pressure hose, and was made to sit in an stifling space with her hands restrained and clothes drenched for an extended period.

During this time, she said her head was forcibly pushed by officials.

Prison Environment and Medical Effects

Both are being held in Ketziot prison, which is primarily used to hold inmates, many of whom Israel alleges of involvement in militant or terrorist activities.

After consular staff visited her, they noted she was “deeply upset”, weeping repeatedly during the visit.

The mother of two was reported as feeling dehydrated, feeble, dizzy, and disoriented.

Lamont mentioned a guard had warned her that tap water was unsafe to drink, and she feared her dehydration was exacerbating her hypertension.

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

But after representatives saw her, they reported she was feeling lethargic, disoriented, and lethargic, and worried she was at risk of stroke.

Her request to consult a physician had gone unanswered.

International and Family Responses

A spokesperson for Global Movement to Gaza Australia expressed fear that her friend was at danger of dying without necessary drugs.

The mother of another Aussie detainee, Bianca Webb-Pullman, said she had received a call from Australian officials giving a verbal account of their inspection to Ketziot prison.

Webb-Pullman described that her daughter had been exposed to abuse, humiliation, intimidation, and was physically handled and pushed.

She was also placed in a courtyard in the sun for five hours with no protection, food or water.

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

Official Statements

Australian authorities replied to questions with a message that declared the Australian government had “expressed to Israeli officials the need for detainees to be treated humanely according to global standards”.

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

Sources reached out to detention authorities, the military, the foreign office, and the Israeli embassy in Australia, but no one responded to a query.