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 stated that authorities are in the process of deporting the remainder.
The deportations occurred following the last boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) being intercepted by Israeli forces. The GSF has condemned these interceptions as illegal, while Israel labeled the flotilla's actions as a provocation.
The blocking of the flotilla has incited protests worldwide, including a general strike in Italy. Initial boats were stopped on Wednesday about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, in international waters.
Israel asserted that its navy instructed the boats to change course, claiming they were violating a lawful naval blockade while the GSF countered these interceptions were illegitimate. The Israeli foreign ministry indicated that four Italian citizens had already been deported, with the rest awaiting similar fates.
All detained individuals are reportedly safe, although the GSF alleged that some activists faced assaults with water cannons during the interceptions.
Notably, the presence of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on one of the boats was mentioned, but her condition remains undisclosed. The flotilla aimed to deliver humanitarian aid and defy the blockade imposed on Gaza, leading to heightened tensions and global protests as the boats approached.
The GSF claim that all 42 of their vessels were illegally intercepted within a mere span of 38 hours, culminating in the last boat being halted approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza.
While some of the detained vessels are reportedly secured at the Israeli Ashdod Naval Base, global protests continue to mount in support of the flotilla and against ongoing military actions in Gaza.
