Hundreds of flotilla activists remain in Israel’s custody
On Friday, four Italian activists detained on board the Global Sumud Flotilla were deported after they were forcibly taken to Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said procedures were under way to send all remaining participants to other countries.
- Some 450 activists are in Israeli detention, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg.
- The Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to break the Israeli blockade in Gaza, said on Friday that Israeli naval forces had “illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels”.
- The boats were carrying “humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza”, the group said.
Turkiye says 36 nationals from Gaza-bound flotilla due to return
Turkiye says 36 of its citizens were expected to return home via a special flight on Saturday afternoon after Israel intercepted a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
“We expected 36 of our nationals on the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels seized by Israeli forces in international waters will return to our country this afternoon via a special flight,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Keceli said on X, adding that the final number has not been finalised.
Israel says 137 activists abducted from Gaza flotilla sent to Turkiye
Israel’s Foreign Ministry has said 137 activists who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla have been sent to Turkiye from Israel. The activists were forcibly taken to Israel after Israeli forces abducted them in international waters.
Israeli media outlet Haaretz quoted the ministry as saying the activists were from the US, UK, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Malaysia, Bahrain, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Turkiye.
