Jerusalem, Israel. Gaza flotilla activists detained by Israel after their vessel was intercepted in international waters have been released from prison in southern Israel and are due to be deported to Turkey on Thursday, officials said.
Detention and planned deportations
The activists were arrested at a port in southern Israel after the Israeli navy intercepted their protest flotilla. Israeli rights group Adalah said an estimated 430 activists had been released from prison in southern Israel and would be deported via the Ramon airport near Eilat on the Red Sea.
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said Turkey was conducting special flights to bring Turkish citizens and third-country participants to Turkey, including citizens of Spain, South Korea and Ireland. Fidan said Turkey would continue to uphold the rights of its citizens and fulfil what he described as its humanitarian responsibility toward civilians in Gaza.
Spain’s foreign minister said Spanish diplomats in Israel had been informed that about 44 Spanish flotilla members would depart Israel at 3 p.m. local time (1200 GMT).
Political reaction and previous flotillas
The activists’ treatment by police officers under far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir drew an international outcry and a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ben-Gvir and transport minister Miri Regev posted campaign-style videos of themselves visiting the port and criticising the protesters, in moves described as attention-grabbing ahead of potential early elections in Israel.
Flotilla organisers said they aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance, which aid bodies say remains in short supply despite a U.S.-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in place since October 2025 that includes guarantees of increased aid. The flotilla departed from southern Turkey this week before being intercepted on Wednesday, and previous flotillas, including one carrying Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were also intercepted by Israel with participants later deported.
What do you consider the most significant factor shaping the diplomatic response to the flotilla detentions and deportations?
