Israel has announced the deportation of 171 activists who were detained while participating in an aid flotilla headed for Gaza, including renowned Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg. The foreign ministry disclosed that the individuals, part of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla, have been sent to Greece and Slovakia. Among the deportees were citizens from various countries such as Greece, Italy, France, and the United States.
Images accompanying the announcement depicted Thunberg and two other women walking through Ramon Airport in Israel, clad in the standard grey tracksuits worn in Israeli prisons. According to the Israeli foreign ministry, 138 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla remain in Israeli custody.
The flotilla, comprising 45 vessels, aimed to challenge the Israeli blockade and deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations has reported a severe famine following prolonged conflict. Israel intercepted the flotilla in international waters starting on Wednesday, preventing boats carrying over 400 individuals from reaching Gaza.
Activists deported from Israel and arriving in Istanbul recounted incidents of violence and dehumanizing treatment. In response, Israel’s foreign ministry reiterated that the legal rights of all participants were fully respected, dismissing claims of mistreatment as part of a fabricated news campaign.