The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this Thursday that all foreign activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla had been deported from territory under its military control.

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla have begun arriving in European airports and Istanbul, Türkiye, following their release and deportation from Israel.

The 430 humanitarian aid workers were illegally detained for over 24 hours at the Ketziot prison, an incident that has triggered widespread international condemnation and renewed calls for an end to the Gaza blockade.

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Upon landing in Istanbul, the activists, who embarked on their journey in defense of human dignity, unequivocally reaffirmed their commitment to continue the political struggle. They renewed their calls for robust international solidarity with the express purpose of exposing the genocide in Gaza and demanding a definitive cessation of the prolonged military blockade. Their resolve remains unshaken, emphasizing that their detention only strengthens their determination to amplify the voices of those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

The deportation occurred merely hours after the dissemination of disturbing videos depicting Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s Minister of National Security, allegedly mistreating the prisoners and threatening them with “a long period in our prisons.” These highly incendiary images have provoked a strong diplomatic protest from several nations, including Spain, Belgium, France, Italy, Türkiye and Qatar, all of whom had nationals among the detained individuals.

Expressions of condemnation reverberated globally, with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly denouncing the treatment inflicted upon the civilian flotilla as “abominable and unacceptable.” His strong statement aligned with the official repudiation previously articulated by Kajsa Ollongren, the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights. This broad chorus of international criticism highlights the severity with which the international community views the actions taken against the humanitarian activists, emphasizing widespread concerns about Human Rights violations.

The legal team from Adalah, a Non-Governmental Organization dedicated to providing legal assistance to activists and Human Rights defenders in the region, formally denounced the actions of Israeli authorities. Adalah reported that extreme violence was used against the international activists who were allegedly abducted following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters. This serious accusation of violence beyond mere detention underscores the gravity of the incident and the alleged mistreatment of the peaceful participants.

Medical and legal reports meticulously documented the extensive use of taser guns, rubber bullets, and severe beatings, which resulted in significant injuries among the activists. These injuries included fractured ribs, severe breathing difficulties, and other serious lesions that necessitated the hospitalization of three individuals. The majority of the 430 arrested activists were subsequently transferred to Ketziot prison after undergoing initial immigration processing.

Defense lawyers, who managed to meet with the detainees at the port of Ashdod under severe restrictions, denounced systematic violations of due process, accompanied by widespread physical and psychological abuse perpetrated by the Israeli occupation forces, corroborating the allegations of physical abuse during their capture and detention.

The NGO specifically detailed that guards forcibly removed the hijabs of several female activists and compelled prisoners to walk completely bent over and on their knees. This account validates that the mistreatment captured in the video featuring Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, accurately reflected the reality prior to the activists’ court appearance for deportation, adding a layer of authenticity to the minister’s disturbing actions.

The incident has placed significant diplomatic pressure on Israel, prompting calls for explanations and accountability from numerous international bodies and sovereign states concerned about the treatment of their citizens.

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