The Israeli government has deported an additional 171 members of the Global Solidarity Flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters while en route to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
The flotilla’s participants, who hailed from various countries, were taken into custody after their vessels were stopped at sea.
Among those still detained is former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was part of the flotilla delegation.
His continued detention has drawn concern from human rights groups and political figures in Pakistan.
According to a statement issued by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the deported individuals have been sent to Greece and Slovakia.
The activists who have now been expelled belong to a wide range of nations, including Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and the United States.
The Global Solidarity Flotilla had set sail with the stated purpose of delivering humanitarian assistance to civilians in Gaza, where a humanitarian crisis continues amid Israel’s ongoing blockade.
However, the Israeli navy intercepted the vessels, detaining hundreds of participants.
Earlier, Israel had deported over 170 activists from the flotilla, bringing the total number of deportees to more than 340 so far.
Meanwhile, activists who have returned to their home countries have reported harsh treatment during their detention in Israel.
Several Italian aid workers who arrived back in Rome alleged that they were harassed, beaten, and denied access to medical care and essential medicines.
One detainee described how a fellow activist, identified as environmental campaigner Greta, was dragged by her hair and beaten while in Israeli custody.
These testimonies have sparked international outrage, with rights organizations demanding an independent investigation into the treatment of the flotilla’s passengers.
The Israeli government, however, has defended its actions, asserting that the flotilla attempted to breach a legally enforced maritime blockade on Gaza.