The Israeli Ministry confirmed the deportation of six out of eight activists, as calls for their release amid claims of mistreatment grow louder.
Six of the eight activists from the Madleen Freedom Flotilla, who were detained by Israeli authorities after their boat was intercepted in international waters, have been deported back to their home countries. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the deportation, confirming the activists had been in custody for over 72 hours following the interception of the vessel, which aimed to carry humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
The NGO Adalah, which provided legal assistance to the activists, stated that while six had been released, two others—French nationals Pascal Maurieras and Yanis Mhamdi—remain in custody and are scheduled for deportation on Friday. Noteworthy among those deported is Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, who took to social media upon her release to invite supporters for a gathering in Paris’s Place de la République at 21:00 local time.
In a tongue-in-cheek post on X (formerly Twitter), the Israeli Foreign Ministry remarked on the deportation with a jab at the activists by referring to their yacht as a "selfie yacht" and encouraged Hassan to take a selfie before leaving. This post featured images of the activists boarding their flight.
Adalah decried the handling of the activists while in custody, alleging they experienced mistreatment and some were placed in solitary confinement. The organization asserted that the ongoing detention and forced deportation of the activists is unlawful and emphasizes Israel’s violations of international law. The ministry clarified that refusal to sign deportation documents could lead to legal proceedings.
The Madleen was one of several vessels attempting to deliver aid to Gaza amid Israel's military blockade. The journey was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which sought to challenge the blockade and raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The Israeli government dismissed the mission as trivial, claiming it carried less aid than a single truckload.
Recent developments have seen Israel maintaining its blockade on Gaza, which came under renewed military action following a two-month ceasefire collapse. Humanitarian groups report that Gazans face catastrophic hunger levels, with Israel accused of prioritizing aid distribution through channels that compromise the principles of humanitarian neutrality. The ongoing conflict has claimed more than 55,000 lives in Gaza since October 2023, with further escalations resulting in significant casualties.
Six of the eight activists from the Madleen Freedom Flotilla, who were detained by Israeli authorities after their boat was intercepted in international waters, have been deported back to their home countries. The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the deportation, confirming the activists had been in custody for over 72 hours following the interception of the vessel, which aimed to carry humanitarian aid to the besieged Gaza Strip.
The NGO Adalah, which provided legal assistance to the activists, stated that while six had been released, two others—French nationals Pascal Maurieras and Yanis Mhamdi—remain in custody and are scheduled for deportation on Friday. Noteworthy among those deported is Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, who took to social media upon her release to invite supporters for a gathering in Paris’s Place de la République at 21:00 local time.
In a tongue-in-cheek post on X (formerly Twitter), the Israeli Foreign Ministry remarked on the deportation with a jab at the activists by referring to their yacht as a "selfie yacht" and encouraged Hassan to take a selfie before leaving. This post featured images of the activists boarding their flight.
Adalah decried the handling of the activists while in custody, alleging they experienced mistreatment and some were placed in solitary confinement. The organization asserted that the ongoing detention and forced deportation of the activists is unlawful and emphasizes Israel’s violations of international law. The ministry clarified that refusal to sign deportation documents could lead to legal proceedings.
The Madleen was one of several vessels attempting to deliver aid to Gaza amid Israel's military blockade. The journey was organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which sought to challenge the blockade and raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region. The Israeli government dismissed the mission as trivial, claiming it carried less aid than a single truckload.
Recent developments have seen Israel maintaining its blockade on Gaza, which came under renewed military action following a two-month ceasefire collapse. Humanitarian groups report that Gazans face catastrophic hunger levels, with Israel accused of prioritizing aid distribution through channels that compromise the principles of humanitarian neutrality. The ongoing conflict has claimed more than 55,000 lives in Gaza since October 2023, with further escalations resulting in significant casualties.
