ISRAEL has deported four Italian nationals after intercepting and detaining hundreds of activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international aid convoy that sought to breach the blockade of Gaza.
The deportations, confirmed by Israel’s foreign ministry on Friday, followed the navy's interception of the final vessel in the 42-ship fleet, bringing the high-profile maritime mission to an abrupt end.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, which included environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg and journalists from international outlets, had set sail last month from Barcelona, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge what organisers called “Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza”.
AFP, today, cited Israeli authorities stating none of the vessels breached the maritime blockade. An Israeli official said more than 400 people were prevented from reaching Gaza, with over 470 taken into custody and transferred to Ashdod Port.
“The rest are in the process of being deported,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.
Israeli police confirmed that flotilla participants were “subjected to rigorous screening” before being handed over to the prison service.
Organisers said the final vessel, Marinette, was intercepted early Friday morning, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza. In a post on Telegram, they accused Israel of “illegally intercepting all 42 of our vessels – each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.”
Among those detained were more than 20 journalists, including staff from *El País*, *Al Jazeera* and Italy’s RAI network. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders condemned the arrests.
“Arresting journalists and preventing them from doing their work is a serious violation of the right to inform and be informed,” said Martin Roux, head of RSF’s crisis desk.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the navy’s actions. “I commend the soldiers and commanders of the navy who carried out their mission on Yom Kippur in the most professional and efficient manner,” he said in a statement.
“Their important action prevented dozens of vessels from entering the war zone and repelled a campaign of delegitimisation against Israel.”
However, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir criticised the deportations. “I think they must be kept here in an Israeli prison for a few months, so they can smell the scent of the terrorists’ ward,” he wrote on X.
The flotilla's interception sparked widespread international protests. In Italy, a general strike disrupted transport networks, while in Barcelona – the flotilla’s departure point – some 15,000 people marched in support, chanting “Gaza, you are not alone” and “Freedom for Palestine”.
The Sumud Nusantara Command Centre (SNCC), which coordinated parts of the mission, rejected Israel’s claims that the flotilla lacked humanitarian cargo.
“This mission was intercepted without reasonable cause. We were not carrying weapons, and our participants fully cooperated,” Bernama reported SNCC director-general Datuk Dr Sani Araby Abdul Alim Araby saying on Friday.
Dr Sani said evidence of aid deliveries had been shared publicly, including contributions from the Turkish Red Crescent. He added that the Turkish navy had assisted in the final stages of the mission.
The flotilla’s last vessel, Johnny M, was unable to complete its journey after taking on water and becoming partially submerged.
Emphasising the peaceful nature of the mission, Dr Sani said: “Closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, which could be viewed live, showed no suspicious movements that could suggest we posed any threat.”
He urged the international community to focus on Israel’s actions. “If we focus too much on the question of ‘where does the aid go’, we will be adopting a distorted narrative as to who is violating the mission.”
With 495 participants from over 45 countries currently detained, he said the group’s priority now is ensuring their safety.
Asked about a potential second flotilla, Dr Sani said: “As long as Gaza is not freed, its people's rights continue to be denied, and famine worsens, the world will continue to rise in solidarity.”
He noted growing international pressure on Israel, citing moves by Colombia to sever diplomatic ties and wider recognition of Palestinian statehood, including from the United Kingdom.
“This is quite a surprising turn of events in modern history,” he said. “After 75 years, even the United Kingdom is recognising Palestine.”
The war in Gaza, now nearing its second year, began following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel that killed 1,219 people. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed more than 66,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health authorities.
The United Nations has warned of famine and catastrophic conditions across the enclave, while humanitarian access remains severely restricted. - October 4, 2025
