Australian filmmaker says was sexually assaulted by ‘Israeli’ forces on “prison boat”
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Australian filmmaker and activist Juliet Lamont said that she was beaten and sexually assaulted by five men while detained aboard an ‘Israeli’ vessel she described as a “prison boat.”
Lamont made the statements upon her arrival at Istanbul Airport on Thursday, still wearing the grey tracksuit issued by the ‘Israel’ Prison Service.
Lamont was among approximately 428 activists from over 40 countries participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, a humanitarian mission aimed at challenging ‘Israel’s’ naval blockade of Gaza and delivering aid.
‘Israeli’ forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters around May 18, detaining participants before their subsequent deportation.
Speaking to reporters and in interviews, including with CNN, Lamont said that around 180 detainees on one vessel endured systematic violence.
She reported that dozens sustained broken bones, while others were subjected to tasering, sedation with unknown substances, and sexual assault.
She described the treatment as a “relentless” and “planned campaign of violence” intended to deter future activism.
"Personally, I was sexually assaulted when we were intercepted and taken to a prison boat…I was cable tied with my hands behind my back and shackles to my ankles,” Lamont said.
"I was thrown to the deck of the prison boat where I was then stood upon, I was slapped with guns to the back of my head."
"I feared for my life, but the reality was...I was sexually assaulted, I was thrown into a darkened shipping container,” she added.
"Five men beat me and sexually assaulted me in that container ship."
“You know they’ve broken our bones, but they haven’t broken our soul,” Lamont stated, emphasizing the resilience of the activists despite the abuses.
She noted that this incident represented an escalation compared to a previous flotilla participation in October 2025, during which she also reported experiencing sexual assault.
Other released activists, including several Australians, have echoed similar accounts of mistreatment, including beatings and poor conditions during detention.
Eleven Australians were among those detained and later released, with Australian officials having pressed for their swift return.
