Source: Radio New Zealand
Global Sumud Flotilla boats were intercepted by Israeli Defense Forces. GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA / SUPPLIED
The wife of one of the New Zealanders in the flotilla intercepted by Israel in international waters says he has a concussion and possible broken rib.
Jay O’Connor, Mousa Taher, Julien Blondel and Sean Janssen were among almost 180 people who had disembarked on the Greek island of Crete.
Flotilla organisers said they were illegally abducted after Israel boarded, disabled and destroyed boats in the flotilla headed for Gaza.
Israel’s foreign ministry had called organisers “professional provocateurs” and said it would not allow “the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza”.
Greece said 31 people of the 176 people who disembarked at a port in Crete were transferred for first aid.
O’Connor’s wife, Chrissy O’Connor, had not yet been able to speak with him.
“I’ve received some messages from him and he sent through a recorded voice message, so I’ve heard his voice and I’ve seen a photo,” she said.
“So that’s a huge relief… so I know some things but still waiting to be able to speak with him properly,” O’Connor added.
“It’s better than not knowing, at least I know he’s off the boat, he’s safe even if he’s a bit roughed up.”
O’Connor said she did not know for sure how her husband was but that he had a concussion and potentially a broken rib.
“That’s just from the brief message I had from him, I don’t know what the outcome of medical assessment was at the moment.”
Jay O’Connor had not yet shared details of how he was injured, his wife said.
Reuters reported two activists, identified as Saif Abu Keshek – a Spanish national of Palestinian origin and Brazilian Thiago Avila had been detained.
The Spanish and Brazilian governments issued a joint statement calling Israel’s action blatantly illegal and outside its jurisdiction, Reuters said.
Israel said Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and Avila of illegal activity, and both would be taken to Israel for questioning.
Chrissy O’Connor said the flotilla was an international humanitarian organisation with citizens from across the world, that included her husband.
“He’s a trained paramedic and an engineer… I think he has wanted to be able to use his skills in a practical way to do something,” she said.
The New Zealand delegation of Global Sumud Flotilla said Hāhona Ormsby and Samuel Leason were not among those taken to Greece.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been approached for comment.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand