Four Italian citizens have been deported from Israel following their detention when Israeli authorities intercepted boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a humanitarian mission carrying aid to Gaza, Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed. Authorities are reportedly in the process of deporting the remaining detainees.
According to Israeli police, over 470 individuals were detained during the interceptions, which took place in international waters approximately 42–70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast. Israeli authorities described the flotilla’s actions as a “provocation,” while the GSF condemned the interceptions as illegal, arguing that Israel has no jurisdiction in international waters.
The flotilla, consisting of 42 vessels from Spain, Tunisia, Italy, and other countries, had been attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip. The last boat, the Polish-flagged Marinette, was intercepted on Friday morning about 43 nautical miles from Gaza. The flotilla reported that communications and live streams from the vessels were cut during the operation, leaving the status of many participants temporarily unconfirmed.
In one livestream from the Marinette, a passenger was seen signaling the presence of an approaching ship before heavily armed Israeli forces boarded the vessel. Several activists reported being targeted with water cannons during the boarding. Some vessels intercepted on Thursday were moored at Israel’s Ashdod Naval Base, according to tracking data.
The GSF criticized the Israeli blockade, calling it illegal, and demanded the immediate safety and release of all detainees. The flotilla has drawn global attention, sparking protests and general strikes in countries including Italy, Spain, Colombia, and Argentina. High-profile activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, were reportedly on board, although their current status has not been publicly confirmed by Israeli authorities.
Israel defended its actions, stating that its navy had warned the flotilla to alter course, as the vessels were entering an “active combat zone” and allegedly violating a “lawful naval blockade.” The Israeli foreign ministry emphasized that all detainees were safe and in good health and stated that the deportation process is being carried out as quickly as possible.
The incident highlights escalating international tension over humanitarian access to Gaza, where decades-long blockades have compounded the region’s humanitarian crisis. The flotilla’s interception and subsequent deportations have intensified calls from international organizations and governments for the protection of humanitarian workers and the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza.
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