Six activists who were detained by Israel after their boat was intercepted on its way to try to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza have been deported, the Israeli foreign ministry has confirmed.
Earlier, Israeli human rights group Adalah said they were being transferred to Ben Gurion Airport “after more than 72 hours in Israeli custody following the unlawful interception of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla in international waters”.
Adalah, which provided legal advice to the activists, said two others who were on board remained in Israeli custody as they awaited deportation on Friday.
Among those who left on Thursday was Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian Member of the European Parliament.
In a post on X, the Israeli foreign ministry said: “Six more passengers from the ‘selfie yacht,’ including Rima Hassan, are on their way out of Israel.
“Bye-bye-and don’t forget to take a selfie before you leave,” it added.
The post also showed pictures of the activists getting onto and then sitting on a plane.
A post on Hassan’s X account said she had left prison and was inviting people to meet in Paris’ Place de la République at 21:00 (20:00 BST).
The other five activists being deported are Mark van Rennes from the Netherlands, Suayb Ordu from Turkey, Yasemin Acar from Germany, Thiago Avila from Brazil, and Reva Viard from France, Adalah said.
The rights organisation said the two other people yet to be deported were Pascal Maurieras and journalist Yanis Mhamdi, both French nationals. It said they were still in custody in Givon prison and were expected to be deported on Friday afternoon.
In a statement issued before the six were deported, Adalah said: “While in custody, volunteers were subjected to mistreatment, punitive measures, and aggressive treatment, and two volunteers were held for some period of time in solitary confinement.”
It added: “Adalah calls for the immediate release of all eight volunteers and for their safe passage to their home countries. Their continued detention and forced deportation are unlawful and a part of Israel’s ongoing violations of international law.”
The Israeli foreign ministry previously said those who refused to sign deportation documents would face judicial proceedings to have them deported, in accordance with Israeli law.
- BBC
