News live: Australian flotilla activists released by Israel arrive in Istanbul and claim they were denied food and water

Eleven Australians were among pro-Palestine activists detained by Israel from the Global Sumud flotilla. Follow today’s news live Israel’s ambassador tells ABC flotilla detainees unharmed Israel’s ambassador to Australia, Dr Hillel Newman, claimed last night no one taken into custody from humanitarian aid flotillas headed to Gaza were harmed, after a far-right Israeli minister posted a video of himself abusing bound activists captured drew widespread condemnation. No one, out of the 400 plus people that were on the flotilla, no one was harmed. The interception itself was done with great sensitivity by the state of Israel, by our security forces. There are many accusations which are thrown out there … which are untrue. Many of us haven’t eaten for days. We were denied water for two days. … But it is nothing compared to what happens to Palestinians in the occupied territories every single day. … The message to our Australian Government is that they need to cut ties with Israel. We need to cancel the alliance, stop sending them weapons parts, stop giving them political support. Continue reading...