In brief
Authorities reported that passengers are being flown home after the Madleen was intercepted by Israeli forces, sparking outrage from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced Tuesday that Greta Thunberg and other passengers aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship have been taken to an airport in Tel Aviv for deportation. The ship, named the Madleen, was operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a pro-Palestinian activist group. It was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday as it attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.According to the ministry's statement, passengers are expected to leave Ben Gurion Airport for their home countries shortly. Those who refuse to leave could face legal action that would lead to their deportation. The ministry did not clarify whether any passengers expressed a desire to stay.The Freedom Flotilla Coalition spearheads an international movement against Israel's long-standing naval blockade of Gaza, organizing shipments of humanitarian aid to the region. The Madleen set sail from Sicily earlier this month, aiming to breach the blockade, to which Israel has responded with a commitment to stop the ship by any means necessary. Following the interception, the coalition stated that its activists had been “kidnapped” by Israeli military forces.The detentions have sparked widespread criticism and concern about the treatment of activists involved in the humanitarian mission. Representatives from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have not yet commented on the recent developments.
