Four Italian citizens have been deported from Israel after they were detained by Israeli authorities when boats sailing in a flotilla carrying aid bound for Gaza were intercepted, Israel's foreign ministry has said.
More than 470 people were detained, according to Israeli police. The ministry stated that authorities were in the process of deporting the remaining detainees.
The deportations come as the last boat of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) was intercepted by Israeli authorities on Friday morning.
The GSF has condemned Israel's interceptions as illegal, while Israeli officials claimed the flotilla's actions were provocations.
This incident has triggered international protests, including a general strike in Italy, highlighting widespread dissent against Israel's actions.
The first boats of the flotilla were stopped on Wednesday approximately 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast in international waters, despite Israel not having jurisdiction in that area.
According to Israel, the navy instructed the boats to alter their course due to their approach towards an "active combat zone" and for violating a lawful naval blockade. However, the GSF maintains that these interceptions are illegal.
In an official statement, the Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that four Italian citizens had been deported and that the process for deporting the others was ongoing. They assured that all detainees were safe and in good health, despite claims from the GSF alleging that many activists faced aggressive tactics, including the use of water cannons during the interceptions.
The statement also mentioned Swedish activist Greta Thunberg's presence on one of the boats, but details on her condition were not provided.
On Friday, the GSF reported that the last of its boats, named Marinette, was illegally intercepted at 10:29 local time, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza in international waters, further asserting that live communications had been disrupted, leaving the status of participants unclear.
During a live stream from Marinette, one participant was seen displaying a message indicating awareness of an approaching ship just before a military vessel was sighted nearby.
The flotilla, which embarked from Spain last month with additional boats from Tunisia, aimed to deliver humanitarian aid amid the ongoing Gaza crisis. The international response to the flotilla's enforcement action has intensified, with demonstrations breaking out across multiple countries in solidarity with the activists.
Additional reporting by Matt Murphy and Richard Irvine-Brown
