In brief
Passengers detained from the ship 'Madleen', which aimed to deliver supplies to Gaza, face immediate deportation, including prominent activist Greta Thunberg.
In a recent development, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday its intention to deport the passengers from a Gaza-bound aid ship, the Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli forces. Among those detained is noted climate activist Greta Thunberg. The ministry reported that the passengers were taken to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport for immediate deportation to their home countries.The Madleen was operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, a pro-Palestinian activist group aiming to challenge Israel's naval blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid. The vessel departed from Sicily earlier this month but was diverted to Israeli shores after Israeli officials pledged to prevent it from reaching Gaza.According to the Foreign Ministry's statement, passengers unwilling to leave Israel could face legal proceedings for deportation. It remains unclear if any have opted to refuse leaving. There has been no immediate response from representatives of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition regarding the situation.The Israeli military emphasized its commitment to stopping the ship, while the Coalition accused the military of kidnapping its activists during the interception. This incident highlights the ongoing tensions in the region as humanitarian efforts continue to face significant obstacles.
