Israel has deported 171 passengers from the World Sumud Flotilla—together with Swedish local weather activist Greta Thunberg—to Greece and Slovakia, the Israeli Overseas Ministry stated on Oct. 6.
The ministry said that the deportees have been residents of Greece, Italy, France, the UK, and the US, amongst different nations.
Whereas the organizers of the convoy, which carried European activists, lawmakers, and humanitarian employees, mentioned they have been trying a “peaceable civilian mission” to ship support to Gaza, the ministry described the flotilla as a provocation and claimed that some organizers had ties to terrorist teams, together with Hamas.
Israel has repeatedly warned that it wouldn’t enable the flotilla to breach the naval blockade of Gaza or enable activists to enter an energetic fight zone. It intercepted all vessels within the convoy final week.
The ministry shared pictures of Thunberg and different flotilla passengers on the airport earlier than they have been deported. The ministry rejected claims relating to the remedy of Thunberg and different detainees as “brazen lies.”
“All of the authorized rights of the members on this PR stunt have been and can proceed to be totally upheld. The lies they’re spreading are a part of their pre-planned pretend information marketing campaign,” the ministry stated.
“The one violent incident got here from a Hamas-Sumud provocateur who bit a feminine medical employees member of Ketsiyot Jail.”
This follows allegations by lawyer Lubna Tuma, who represents activists detained from the World Sumud Flotilla, that they have been mistreated and denied primary human rights.
The ministry stated on Oct. 5 that Thunberg and different detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their keep in custody.
“Greta additionally didn’t complain to the Israeli authorities about any of those ludicrous and baseless allegations—as a result of they by no means occurred,” the ministry said.
Deportations Amid Peace Talks
Israel introduced additional deportations in current days, together with 137 activists sent to Turkey on Oct. 4 and one other 29 flown to Spain on Oct. 5. Some overseas governments, it said, had proven reluctance to just accept deportation flights.
The newest expulsions come as Israeli, Hamas, U.S., and Qatari delegations put together to satisfy in Egypt on Oct. 6 to debate a proposed U.S. peace plan for Gaza.
The struggle in Gaza broke out after Hamas-led terrorists launched a large-scale assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking about 250 hostages again to Gaza.
The demise toll in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Well being Ministry, has risen to greater than 66,000 up to now. That quantity doesn’t distinguish between fighters and civilians. The Epoch Occasions is unable to confirm that determine.
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