Israel's foreign ministry has said pro-Palestinian activists aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla will be deported to Europe after being intercepted by Israeli naval forces.
"Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health," the ministry said Thursday on the social media platform X.
Israeli naval forces stopped several vessels attempting to sail toward Gaza.
Israel say no boats breached Gaza blockade
Israel's foreign ministry has said that none of the boats that were part of the flotilla attempting to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza breached its blockade of the city.
It added that "one last vessel of this provocation remains at a distance. If it approaches, its attempt to enter an active combat zone and breach the blockade will also be prevented."
What happened to the Global Sumud Flotilla?
Israel intercepted a total of 13 boats in the Global Sumud Flotilla, with another 30 boats still sailing towards Gaza, flotilla organizers wrote on Telegram in their latest update.
The vessels were sailing in international waters north of Egypt.
Immediately after the interception, the ministry posted that "Greta and her friends are safe and healthy," referring to Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
In previous posts, they said that livestreams and communications were cut on the intercepted boats and that the "status of participants and crew remains unconfirmed."
Turkey's Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Israel of "an act of terrorism" after the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was bound for Gaza, was intercepted.
Colombia's President Gustavo Petro says he will expel all remaining Israeli diplomats in the country over Israel's interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.
He said Israeli forces have detained two Colombian citizens who were aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla.
