TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel has taken the step of releasing hundreds of activists who attempted to breach its naval blockade of Gaza, with plans underway for their deportation as confirmed by the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, also known as Adalah. The majority of the activists, who are international in origin, are currently being transported to a civilian airport located near Eilat in southern Israel.
On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that he had instructed authorities to deport these activists "as soon as possible." This decision followed intense criticism directed at Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, who was rebuked for a controversial video that depicted him mocking detained activists while they were handcuffed and kneeling.
In his remarks, Netanyahu acknowledged Israel's right to halt "provocative flotillas of Hamas terrorist supporters," but he expressed disapproval of the way Ben-Gvir interacted with the detained individuals, stating that his behavior did not align with the values and norms of Israel.
The flotilla, consisting of over 50 boats, set sail from Turkey near Cyprus last week with the stated goal of highlighting the troubling conditions faced by nearly 2 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. Israel, however, dismissed the flotilla as "a PR stunt at the service of Hamas," arguing that the boats were merely carrying a minimal amount of aid and lacked genuine intentions to assist Gaza.
Israeli naval forces reportedly began intercepting the vessels approximately 268 kilometers (167 miles) from the Gaza coastline. Additional attempts to stop flotilla boats were made on April 30 near Crete, where 20 vessels were halted. This week, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions against several European activists aboard this flotilla, categorizing them as "pro-terror," as stated by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
Israel has maintained a maritime blockade of Gaza since Hamas took control of the territory in 2007, intensifying restrictions following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023. These attacks resulted in significant casualties, with approximately 1,200 deaths and more than 250 individuals taken hostage. Critics of the blockade argue that it constitutes collective punishment; however, Israel asserts that the restrictions are necessary to prevent Hamas from acquiring arms. Egypt, which shares the only non-Israeli border crossing with Gaza, has also implemented significant limitations on movement to and from the territory.
Since the onset of the retaliatory offensive following the October 7 attacks, Israeli military actions in Gaza have led to the deaths of over 72,700 individuals, as reported by Gaza's Health Ministry. This ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, does not provide a breakdown of casualties into civilian and combatant categories but maintains detailed records that are generally accepted as reliable by the international community.
