Israel has deported 171 passengers from the International Sumud Flotilla—together with Swedish local weather activist Greta Thunberg—to Greece and Slovakia, the Israeli Overseas Ministry stated on Oct. 6.
The ministry acknowledged that the deportees had been residents of Greece, Italy, France, the UK, and the US, amongst different international locations.
Whereas the organizers of the convoy, which carried European activists, lawmakers, and humanitarian employees, stated they had been making an attempt a “peaceable civilian mission” to ship help to Gaza, the ministry described the flotilla as a provocation and claimed that some organizers had ties to terrorist teams, together with Hamas.
Israel has repeatedly warned that it wouldn’t enable the flotilla to breach the naval blockade of Gaza or enable activists to enter an lively fight zone. It intercepted all vessels within the convoy final week.
The ministry shared photographs of Thunberg and different flotilla passengers on the airport earlier than they had been deported. The ministry rejected claims relating to the therapy of Thunberg and different detainees as “brazen lies.”
“All of the authorized rights of the individuals on this PR stunt had been and can proceed to be absolutely upheld. The lies they’re spreading are a part of their pre-planned faux information marketing campaign,” the ministry stated.
“The one violent incident got here from a Hamas-Sumud provocateur who bit a feminine medical workers member of Ketsiyot Jail.”
This follows allegations by lawyer Lubna Tuma, who represents activists detained from the International Sumud Flotilla, that they had been mistreated and denied fundamental human rights.
The ministry stated on Oct. 5 that Thunberg and different detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their keep in custody.
“Greta additionally didn’t complain to the Israeli authorities about any of those ludicrous and baseless allegations—as a result of they by no means occurred,” the ministry acknowledged.
Deportations Amid Peace Talks
Israel introduced additional deportations in latest days, together with 137 activists sent to Turkey on Oct. 4 and one other 29 flown to Spain on Oct. 5. Some overseas governments, it acknowledged, had proven reluctance to simply accept deportation flights.
The most recent expulsions come as Israeli, Hamas, U.S., and Qatari delegations put together to fulfill in Egypt on Oct. 6 to debate a proposed U.S. peace plan for Gaza.
The warfare in Gaza broke out after Hamas-led terrorists launched a large-scale assault on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 civilians and taking about 250 hostages again to Gaza.
The demise toll in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Well being Ministry, has risen to greater than 66,000 to this point. That quantity doesn’t distinguish between fighters and civilians. The Epoch Occasions is unable to confirm that determine.
Should you discovered this text attention-grabbing, please contemplate supporting conventional journalism
Our first version was revealed 25 years in the past from a basement in Atlanta. At present, The Epoch Occasions brings fact-based, award-winning journalism to tens of millions of Individuals.
Our journalists have been threatened, arrested, and assaulted, however our dedication to impartial journalism has by no means wavered. This 12 months marks our twenty fifth 12 months of impartial reporting, free from company and political affect.
That’s why you’re invited to a limited-time introductory provide — simply $1 per week — so you possibly can be part of tens of millions already celebrating impartial information.
