SEAFARER and Maritime Union member Hamish Paterson has returned to Australia following his release by Israeli authorities.
Mr Paterson was among several Australians on board the Global Sumud Flotilla which sought to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Arriving at Sydney Airport on Friday morning, they were greeted by a number of well-wishers and supporters.
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) president and MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said “Hamish’s return does not end this story”.
“It begins the process of justice,” Mr Crumlin said.
“The international trade union movement will continue to fight for every detained worker and humanitarian until they are all free, and until those responsible for their mistreatment are held to account.”
MUA deputy national secretary Warren Smith said Hamish’s safe return was a relief but did not erase “violations committed by Israeli authorities”.
“We are deeply relieved that Hamish is coming home, but we are outraged at the way he and his fellow aid workers have been treated,” Mr Smith said.
“Now that he is on his way safely home, our attention must refocus on the ongoing atrocities occurring in Gaza and on a lasting peace and justice for the Palestinian people.”
Mr Smith criticised the “ongoing problem of opaque Australian exports of arms and associated materiel to Israel through both seaports and international aviation channels”.
“As transport workers, our members want to know they are not being forced to support a violent, oppressive and criminal war in the Middle East through their labour,” he said.
“If wharfies knew they were handling arms bound for Israel inside the containers they load and unload from ships, they wouldn’t touch them, but it’s impossible for us to know what’s inside every container as they go on the ship.”
He said the government must act to end any Australian trade in arms bound for Israel’s ongoing military assault and occupation of Palestine.