"We have a Blackfulla from Magan-djin and we don’t know where he is": Fears felt for Brisbane Blacks activist Sam Woripa Watson, who has been kidnapped by Israel

Eleven Australians have been illegally abducted by Israel in international waters. Call DFAT and Penny Wong's office today to demand they act.

Israel has illegally kidnapped Wangerriburrah and Birri Gubba filmmaker and activist Sam Woripa Watson and 10 other Australians, who were on a humanitarian flotilla to deliver critically needed aid to Gaza.

(Sam Woripa Watson in front of a boat on the Global Sumud Flotilla)

According to the Global Sumud Flotilla, Israeli Occupation Forces on Monday morning (Turkey time), intercepted 38 boats making up the fleet in international waters west of Cyprus. They were 400 kilometres from Gaza. There are 10 boats still en route to Gaza.

But there is currently no word on the safety of those who have been kidnapped, or any information about where they have been taken.

Sam Woripa Watson comes from a strong legacy of the Brisbane Blacks in Magan-djin, which has been standing in solidarity with Palestine and other oppressed Indigenous populations for decades.

Gu Gu Yalanji elder Uncle Graham Brady, who, along with his father Pastor Don Brady was a key leader in the Brisbane Blacks movement, said Sam embodies the spirit of the movement.

“Sam is the grandson of Sam Watson, one of our prominent figures from the Brisbane Blacks era from the 70s to the 80s to today. He was one of our true fighters from that era,” Uncle Graham told Black Witness.

“Now, Sam’s grandson (Sam Woripa Watson), has taken up that part now. So he’s now in the international arena, taking the Aboriginal cause out there. And it’s embedded in him - he’s born in it. He’s part of that already. We can see why he’s over there now.

“Because he comes from a line of fighters and he continues to fight.”

For the past three years, Sam Woripa Watson has helped lead Blackfulla-Palestinian solidarity movements, and is often on the frontlines of weekly weekend protests for Indigenous and other oppressed groups.

He’s spent years on the frontlines, but now there are real fears for his safety.

Co-director of the Institute of Collaborative Race Research (ICRR), Professor Chelsea Watego has called on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to get behind Sam.

“A year ago, there was a lot of media coverage about blackfellas bunkered down in Israel, who were on a propaganda tour. There was media coverage about their safety, but they were actually in quite safe quarters,” Professor Watego told Black Witness.

“But here we have a Blackfulla from Magandgin and we don’t know where he is.

“There are risks on his life and safety.

“Sam is also a staff member of ICRR, and when you see your mob go and fight on the frontline, you have this mixed feeling.

“On the one hand, you’re proud, but at the same time, you can’t help but feel fear.

“We know about the violence visited upon the bodies of those on the frontline. We know what Sam is doing is right. We know what he is fighting for is a just cause.”

Legal Advocate for the Foreign Prisoner’s Support Service Martin Hodgson, a Yuin man who has helped Palestinian prisoners, told Black Witness that Israel is acting like pirates in the high seas, and are in clear violation of international law.

“Under international law, forcibly seizing civilian flotilla participants in international waters and transporting them against their will constitutes kidnapping,” Mr Hodgson told Black Witness.

“International waters are beyond the sovereign territory of any state, and no country has the legal right to arbitrarily board civilian vessels, detain passengers, and remove them by force absent a clear and lawful justification recognised under international law.

“In no way does that justification exist, they are legally flagged vessels and it is Israel who is acting like pirates in the high seas. That is a crime that demands arrest and punishment under international law!”

Almost 400 activists from across the world have also been kidnapped, with 38 boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla intercepted.

Other activists abducted include Neve O’Connor, Anny Mokotow, Isla Lamont, Juliet Lamont, Surya McEwen, Zack Schofield, Dr Bianca Webb-Pullman, Gemma O’Toole, Violet Coco and Helen O’Sullivan.

Another Blackfulla - Wiradjuri, Ngiyampaa and Wailwan man Ethan Floyd - was kidnapped by Israel in late April, when his boat was intercepted with 175 other activists 1000 kilometres from Gaza.

Before he left, Sam told black radio station Triple A, of the solidarities built between black and Palestinian communities, based on shared struggle. He spoke out against silence, in particular, calling on every Australian to pay attention and amplify efforts to fight genocidal violence and oppression.

“I think silence is a statement in itself. We’ve seen complicity around the world from governments who support the actions of the state committing this genocide, and provide political and material support. I always say in situtions of injustice, if you are silent, you have chosen the side of the oppressor,” Mr Watson told Triple A.

“…It’s something that affects everybody. It doesn’t just affect blackfellas.”

The flotilla movement is aimed at breaking Israel’s genocidal blockade of the Gaza strip which has been starving Palestinians in Gaza since 2007.

Human rights organisations and international agencies have routinely shown that Israel’s blockade is illegal and inhumane, restricting access to food, water and medicine for residents, even prior to the genocide perpetrated on the strip following October 7, 2023.

Over three years, Israel massacred over 84,000 Palestinian men, women and children in the strip, although this toll is likely to be higher. The greatest proportion of those massacred were children and women.

Australia continues to support Israel’s genocidal campaigns. A report by UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese confirmed Australia’s complicity in Israeli war crimes through is arms export network. Australia continues to supply F-35 air craft components which are used to commit genocide.

The flotilla fleet, in contrast, is a humanitarian mission filled with critically needed resources like food and medicine, which now sit on empty boats bobbing in international waters.

Israel has illegally detained flotilla humanitarians in its jails, over-populated with Palestinian men, women and children. They have been shown to subject activists to torture, abuse and sexual assault.

Flotilla activists and supporters are now calling on everyone to amplify news and pressure the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to act.

To help support Sam and other Australians detained:

Call on Penny Wong, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and the Australian Government to:

1. Demand the safe release of all Australian humanitarian volunteers detained by Israel

1. Publicly condemn Israel’s kidnapping of Australian citizens

1. Stop arming and supporting Israel

• There will also be a snap rally for Sam at Central Station in Brisbane, 4:30 pm on Wednesday 20/05/2026.

• This piece has been edited to include the correct name of the Flotilla - the Global Sumud Flotilla