The Jewish Council of Australia has expressed “grave concerns for the activists on board the Gaza Freedom Flotilla” after it was intercepted and boarded by Israeli forces.

“Israel has a history of killing activists trying to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and cannot be trusted to ensure the safety of the Freedom Flotilla crew,” Sarah Schwartz, the council’s executive officer, said in a statement posted on X.

“We call on the Australian government to urgently intervene to secure the immediate release of the vessel and safety of the crew,” she said.

“It has been months since meaningful humanitarian aid entered Gaza, with Palestinians in Gaza now at risk of imminent starvation and death,” she said.

Schwartz also decried the “continued inaction of western governments” over Israel’s “continued and flagrant breaches of international law.”

“The world is watching. We don’t have to be a ‘major player’ to show our commitment to the basic humanity of Palestinians and be part of the global movement to pressure Israel through sanctions to comply with international law,” the statement added.