Jerusalem, Jun 10 (AP) — Activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel on Tuesday, following the seizure of the Gaza-bound ship she was aboard, as confirmed by Israel's Foreign Ministry. Thunberg departed on a flight to France and was en route to Sweden, despite her usual aversion to air travel, according to a post by the Foreign Ministry on X. The post included a photo of Thunberg seated on a plane.
Thunberg was one of 12 passengers aboard the Madleen, a vessel carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, intended to protest Israel's ongoing conflict there and highlight the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organization behind the mission. The Israeli navy intercepted the boat early Monday, approximately 200 kilometers off Gaza's coast, without incident, according to the coalition. Rights groups and the coalition claimed that Israel's actions violated international law, but Israel rebutted these allegations, citing what it asserts is a lawful naval blockade of Gaza.
The vessel was escorted by the Israeli navy to the Port of Ashdod on Monday evening, as stated by Israel's Foreign Ministry. According to Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing the activists, Thunberg, two other activists, and a journalist agreed to deportation and left Israel. The remaining eight activists refused deportation and were detained, awaiting deliberation by Israeli authorities, with their case scheduled to be addressed later Tuesday, as Adalah indicated.
Sabine Haddad, spokesperson for Israel’s Interior Ministry, stated that the activists consenting to deportation Tuesday had relinquished their right to appear before a judge. Those opposing deportation faced a hearing and will be detained for 96 hours before deportation.
Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers onboard. She was barred from entering Israel due to her opposition to Israeli policies toward Palestinians. It remains unclear if she was being deported immediately or detained.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that one of the detained French activists agreed to sign an expulsion order, allowing them to leave Israel on Tuesday for France. The other five activists declined the order. Barrot confirmed that all activists received consular visits.
On Monday, Adalah claimed Israel had no legal jurisdiction to seize the ship, arguing it was in international waters and destined for the “territorial waters of the state of Palestine.” Amnesty International accused Israel of flouting international law during the naval operation, urging the immediate and unconditional release of the activists.
“The detention of the unarmed activists, who operated non-violently to deliver humanitarian aid, is a serious breach of international law," stated Adalah in their declaration. Israel dismissed the operation as a mere publicity stunt, referring to the vessel as the “selfie yacht." Israeli authorities claimed the flotilla carried only minimal supplies, amounting to less than a truckload of goods. (AP) GRS GRS
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