Four Italian citizens have been deported from Israel after they were detained by Israeli authorities when boats sailing in a flotilla carrying aid bound for Gaza were intercepted, Israel's foreign ministry has said.
More than 470 people were detained, according to Israeli police. The ministry noted that authorities are in the process of deporting the remaining detainees.
The deportations occurred after the last boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) was intercepted by Israeli authorities on Friday morning.
The GSF criticized Israel's actions as illegal, while Israel described the flotilla's operations as a provocation.
The flotilla's blockage triggered protests globally, including a significant general strike in Italy.
Israel's navy reportedly stopped the flotilla's vessels approximately 70 nautical miles off Gaza’s coast—an area where it claims jurisdiction despite it being in international waters.
In a statement, the Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that four Italian citizens have been deported and that the rest are in the process of deportation. They affirmed the safety and health conditions of all detainees.
Activists from the GSF claimed that many were subjected to violence during the interceptions, including assaults by water cannon. The flotilla had set sail from Spain, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid and break Israel's blockade of Gaza.
Often accompanied by international media coverage, the last boat, Marinette, was intercepted 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza. GSF activists accused Israel of conducting an illegal attack on unarmed humanitarians.
This situation continues to escalate calls for diplomatic intervention from global governments and institutions, demanding the immediate safety and release of the detained activists.
