Conscience captain to face ‘indefinite detention’ in Israel unless she signs waiver

Australian citizen Madeleine Habib, who captained the Conscience vessel on a pro-Palestinian aid flotilla, has been told she will be "indefinitely detained" in Israel unless she signs a waiver admitting to breaking the country's naval blockade on Gaza, according to a report by The Guardian.

Habib, a Tasmanian mariner, was detained on 8 October after Israeli forces intercepted the vessel. She is currently being held at Ketziot prison in southern Israel. 

Authorities said she was detained for "illegally seeking to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza."

Her detention comes after other Australian activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla were released and deported to Jordan earlier this week, before returning to Sydney.

During a Senate estimates hearing yesterday (10 October), Greens Senator Nick McKim questioned officials from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) about Habib's situation. They said privacy rules prevented them from providing further details.

Habib reportedly told Australian consular officials who visited her in prison on Thursday that she had faced "degradation but no physical abuse." 

She said she had been given only stale bread and discoloured tap water, and suspected her cell might have bedbugs, though she added she had experienced worse conditions on boats and in hostels.

All detainees from the flotilla had hearings on Thursday and were asked to sign a waiver acknowledging they had attempted to breach Israel's blockade illegally before being deported to Turkey, reports The Guardian. 

DFAT officials confirmed that Habib refused to sign, and Israeli immigration authorities said anyone who declined the waiver would remain in detention indefinitely. 

This marked a change from previous practice, where detainees were usually deported within 72 hours regardless of signing.

DFAT officials said they might not be able to visit Habib again until next Wednesday due to government shutdowns during the holiday period. Australian officials expect her to be released tomorrow (12 October).

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong told the committee that while privacy concerns limited what could be shared publicly, Australia's position is clear. "Our expectation is that Israel ensures humane treatment to any detainees in line with international norms."