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Hundreds of people joined emergency protests on June 9 in at least six locations around Australia to protest Israel’s illegal arrest of 12 activists from the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. The actions followed regular weekend protests on June 8 — the 610th day of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

The Madleen, a British-flagged ship chartered by the , heading to Gaza with aid and medical supplies, was intercepted by Israel in international waters on June 9.

Hundreds of people gathered at a snap protest on June 9 in Naarm/Melbourne carrying banners that read “Hands off the Gaza Freedom Flotilla” and “Stop starving Gaza, end the genocide now”. The action expressed solidarity with the Madleen Freedom Flotilla which was en route to Gaza to deliver life saving aid to the Palestinians.

In Magan-djin/Brisbane, with less than a day’s notice.

Activists pointed to Israel’s actions as the latest example of genocidal impunity and criticised the Australian government for silence in the face of Israel’s actions.

Aboriginal activist Sam Watson reminded the crowd that “this is not the first time that activists have tried to break the siege of Gaza” and that Israel has a record of bombing and murdering activists who attempt to bring aid to Gaza.

A large crowd gathered in Boorloo/Perth in an emergency action on the same day. People held images of the Flotilla participants.

Prior to their vessel being attacked, activists on the Flotilla released , asking the world to pressure their respective governments to demand Israel release them and lift the siege on Gaza.

Israel’s defence minister, Israel Katz, issued a personal warning to Greta Thunberg, one of the Madleen’s crew, to turn the boat back.

Thunberg replied on Instagram saying: “As we are sailing closer to Gaza with Israel saying they will not allow the boat to arrive with humanitarian aid (which would be a crime by them), it’s very important to keep in mind that this mission is not about us nor the boat,” she posted on Instagram.

“This is about the genocide, blockade and systematic oppression of Palestinians.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said on June 9 that the aid ship had been “attacked/forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military at 3:02 am CET in international waters at 31.95236° N, 32.38880° E. The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated.”

“Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen,” Huwaida Arraf, human rights attorney and Freedom Flotilla organiser, said. “This seizure blatantly violates international law and defies the [International Criminal Court] ICJ’s binding orders requiring unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.

“These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalized for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade — their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately.”

The Freedom Flotilla is demanding an end to the illegal and deadly siege of Gaza; the immediate release of all abducted volunteers; the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid directly to Palestinians that is independent of the control of the occupying power; and full accountability for the military assaults on Madleen and Conscience.

Activists were expressing solidarity with the Flotilla even before Israel's attack.

Speaking at the the Gadigal Country/Sydney protest on June 8, Michael Coleman of Free Gaza Australia “when governments fail, we sail”.

He received a big cheer when he said that the Madleen was heading “straight towards Palestinian territorial waters” and would be delivering “aid, and solidarity from people like you”.

Thousands demanding Labor impose sanctions on Israel and end its two-way arms trade with the genocidal regime. The march was organised by the Palestine Action Group.

More than 2000 people moblised for Palestine the same day in Naarm/Melbourne, Jacob Andrewartha reports.

The rally marked the 58th Anniversary of the��Naksa (setback) where Palestinians were displaced from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a result of the 1967 Israel Six-Day War. Speakers highlighted the legacy of the Naksa and how it is connected to the genocide in Palestine today.

Samah Sabawi, Palestinian author and playwright condemned the insanity of how cultural art spaces are trying to silence those who dare to speak up about Palestine. Solidarity with the Freedom Flotilla was highlighted with Sabawi saying “the aid ships are not just marching for Gaza, they’re marching to give us light that we can stand up against this genocide”.

Dr Basel El-Behesy, Palestinian specialist anaesthetist said that the current genocide in Gaza is a direct result of the historical events that took place during the Naksa in 1967. That is why “Palestinians are fighting to the death for any piece of land they can claim against Israel”.

Omar Hassan, from the rally organising committee condemned Western government's weasel words, attempting to save face after 17 months of genocide.��The protest marched from the State Library to Flinders Street station and back.

The day before these protests, during Eid Al Adha, at least 66 people were murdered in United States–Israeli bombings, with more than three dozen members of one family obliterated, half of whom were children.

Israel has also continued massacres of Gazans trying to collect food aid from the misnamed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, run by the US and Israel as an arm of the genocide.

Rallies were also organised in other cities, including on June 5 in Muloobinba/Newcastle for��the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network’s call for a national day of action. Niko Leka reports that people converged on the office of Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Claydon to demand immediate sanctions on Israel, an end to all military ties, to expel�� the Israeli ambassador until Israel obeys international law, and support for the Humanitarian Aid convoys — including the Madleen — which was then preparing to go to Gaza.

Organiser Kerrie McGrath explained their action in an .

On June 7, a rally in Bathurst opposed Israel’s genocide in Gaza organised by Central West NSW for Palestine.

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