Israel Deports 4 Activists from Aid Ship to Gaza

Israel arrested 12 human rights activists who were detained in international waters aboard the “Madelin” ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. Among them, four activists, including Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, agreed to sign deportation documents and are now leaving Israel. The eight others who refused to sign were transferred to court.

Details of the Arrest and Deportation

The Madelin ship, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, was seized by Israeli forces in international waters on June 9. The vessel had set sail from Italy a week earlier. Israel claims the operation was carried out to prevent a breach of the Gaza blockade.

The detained activists were taken to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, where they met with diplomatic representatives from their respective countries. Published images showed Greta Thunberg being escorted to the plane in handcuffs, though her hands were freed after boarding.

International Reactions

The European Union and Slovenia condemned Israel’s actions. The European Parliament issued a statement demanding guarantees for the safety of its representatives, including French member Rima Hassan, who was aboard the ship. Slovenia also denounced the move, stating, “This civilian ship is a reminder of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.”

Fate of the Remaining Eight Activists

The eight activists who refused to sign deportation papers were sent to an immigration court for further processing. The human rights organization Adalah reported that their lawyers went to Givon Prison in Ramla to follow up on their cases.