Brazil, Mexico say citizens from Gaza flotilla returning home

Brazil and Mexico announced Tuesday that citizens of their countries, who were detained by Israel after being part of a Gaza aid flotilla, were on their way home.

Thirteen Brazilians, including lawmaker Luizianne Lins of the ruling Workers' Party, "were taken to the border with Jordan and released," Brasilia's foreign ministry said in a statement.

Mexico's foreign ministry, in a separate statement, said that six Mexicans were also brought to Jordan, where they were met by the Mexican ambassador.

"They left Israel and began their return to Mexico," the ministry said.

The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail last month, ferrying politicians and activists towards Gaza, where the United Nations says Israel's tightening blockade and unrelenting military offensive are causing famine to take hold.

Israel intercepted around 45 small boats and detained more than 470 people last week.

"After six days of illegal imprisonment in Israel, the 13 Brazilians of the Sumud Global Flotilla are finally free," Lins wrote on Instagram.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva accused Israel of violating international law by intercepting the flotilla in international waters.

Both he and his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum had demanded the safe return of their nationals.

An Italian councillor, who was also part of the flotilla, told AFP after his release last week that the activists had been "treated like animals" during detention.

Israel denied the allegation and insisted that the legal rights of the detainees were fully respected.