Why ‘Jules from Hobart’ joined a flotilla bound for Gaza

A scientist from Hobart who has travelled to Tunisia to join an aid flotilla bound for Gaza that also includes Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has said the decision to leave her young family was “really difficult”.

Julia Henry, who has four children aged three, five, 18 and 19, said she was not an activist but a “normal suburban mum”.

“I’m Jules from Hobart,” the 47-year-old said. “I am a really normal suburban housewife, I am a professional, I am a scientist. I am basically a really normal mum. I do have a high level of empathy, and I do find it difficult when there are obvious injustices.”

Henry travelled to Tunisia via Barcelona to join a small crew on board Polish-flagged boat, the Huga, as part of a non-aligned, multinational flotilla set to carry aid to Palestinian families in Gaza.

She spent the night on land in the capital, Tunis, as her ship required repairs. It was then when she heard that the Family Madeira ship in the flotilla, which was docked off the Tunisian port of Sidi Bou Said, had been rocked by an explosion. A statement from the Global Sumud Flotilla said all six people aboard the Family Madeira vessel were safe and claimed the boat had been hit by a drone. Tunisian authorities said the damage had been caused by an internal explosion.

“When the news was filtering in last night, I was pretty shocked,” said Henry, adding she had to think through every scenario before leaving Australia.

“While I am not an activist, I have always been someone who will stand up to a bully and intervene in something that I think is not right. I am a protector. I was taught, and I teach my children, that is the right thing to do.

“This feels like this will be the biggest thing I will ever do, knowing that this is a very small thing on the scale of what’s occurring.”

When the flotilla arrived in Africa from Spain, Henry said she was struck by the families who came out to greet it.

“It was hard leaving my family – yes, it was,” she said.

“Every time I do a video call [with my family], I want to burst into tears.”

Henry said she was aware that the European Union had recommended the aid flotilla not proceed towards Gaza.

“I hear that,” she said. “We have seen that in the past two years, the UN and other organisations have been trying to help. It has not been successful. Aid is not being allowed in [to Gaza].”

The flotilla of about 50 boats carrying 400 people from across the world was refuelling in Tunisia, before a planned final journey east to Gaza.

The flotilla was entirely peaceful and carried no weapons, Henry said. It would not land in Gaza but wanted to create an aid corridor, she said.

A spokesperson for the flotilla later contradicted this, saying that while landing in Gaza is the goal, it is unlikely they will be able to.

In a letter sent to politicians – including Julie Collins, Andrew Wilkie, Jacqui Lambie and Anne Urquhart, and Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockliff – on Tuesday, Henry wrote: “I am not a typical activist or campaigner. When I see suffering, I’ve always acted, and I have marched for causes I believe in, but I have never taken direct action, let alone travelled to the other side of the world do it.

“I could no longer look away or ignore the relentless images of innocent men, women and children caught up in the endless horror.”

Henry’s husband, Sam Edwards, said he was deeply concerned for Henry.

“I didn’t want her to go, as the risks of even reaching Gaza were already significant – and that was before confirmed reports of drones being used against vessels,” he said.

“I urged her to reconsider, but she understood the potential consequences, and I respect her commitment. My only wish is for her to return safely.”

Experts have said that Gaza is in the grip of famine. The territory was invaded by Israel after the Hamas massacres of October 7 two years ago, which killed about 1200 people in Israel. The Gaza Health Ministry says about 64,000 people have died in the military assault against Hamas.

Henry called upon the Australian government to show compassion to the people of Gaza.

“Yes, my gesture is small in the scheme of things, but I hope it at least makes someone in a position of power sit up, take notice and act,” she said.

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