Israel has deported 171 foreign activists who were detained after attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among those deported.
The activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), which tried to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza last week.
Israeli authorities said the deported activists were flown to Greece and Slovakia. Citizens of Greece, Slovakia, France, Italy, the UK, and the United States were included in the group. Photos released show Thunberg wearing a grey tracksuit as she passed through the airport.
So far, Israel has deported a total of 341 out of more than 470 people who were on board the 42 intercepted flotilla boats.
The flotilla aimed to deliver aid and challenge what organizers called the “illegal siege on Gaza.” They said their mission sought to open a humanitarian corridor and draw attention to the ongoing suffering of Palestinians.
Activists criticized Israel for allegedly violating international maritime and humanitarian law during the operation.
They claimed that detainees were mistreated and denied basic rights while in custody.
Israel, however, defended its actions, describing the flotilla as a “PR stunt” and asserting that its naval blockade is legal. Authorities also dismissed claims of mistreatment, calling such reports “fake news.”
