Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated she believes the Australian women who alleged sexual assault and abuse by Israeli soldiers following their detention during a humanitarian flotilla attempting to reach Gaza. Appearing at Senate estimates on March 13, 2024, Wong described the allegations as "distressing" and the reported treatment as "unacceptable," reaffirming her principled stance to believe women reporting sexual assault. Eleven Australians were detained and deported by Israeli naval forces, with some, including Juliet Lamont, Neve O’Connor, and Violet CoCo, detailing experiences of sexual assault, beatings, and humiliation. Israel has denied these allegations, characterizing the flotilla as provocative. Wong also noted that the Australian government has raised concerns with Israel regarding the treatment of the detained individuals and access for Australian diplomats, highlighting a challenging period in Australia-Israel relations due to a pattern of concerning behavior from the Netanyahu government.