Australian lawmaker denounces Israel's 'kidnapping in international waters' Australian Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi criticised the Australian government’s response to Israel’s interception of a humanitarian flotilla bound for Gaza, accusing Israeli forces of carrying out “piracy and kidnapping in international waters”. In a statement on Monday, Faruqi said it was “beyond comprehension” that the Australian government continued to regard Israel as a friend after “two years of genocide”. Faruqi described the government’s response as “appalling” and expressed support for Australians and other activists aboard the flotilla.