Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla of more than 40 civilian boats carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, marking the latest attempt by international activists to breach the Israeli blockade. Among the detainees were Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan, along with 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and activists.
The vessels were stopped near the Gaza coast and escorted to the Israeli port of Ashdod by the Israeli Navy. Those detained are being processed by Israeli immigration authorities and are expected to face deportation, with some banned from returning for 100 years. Activists who refused to sign deportation orders, such as Hassan, were briefly held in solitary confinement before a tribunal upheld the removal orders.
Legal experts highlighted that, unlike previous flotilla missions, detainees were sent to Ketziot Prison, a high-security facility, which may reflect logistical challenges in handling a large number of activists. While Israel has historically treated such incidents as immigration matters rather than criminal offenses, concerns have been raised over potential harsher treatment for repeat participants.
Israel’s foreign ministry stated the flotilla was warned it was approaching an active combat zone and violating a “lawful naval blockade,” and offered to transfer aid via alternative channels.