Israel Begins Deportation of Flotilla Volunteers, Nine Indonesian Nationals Repatriated via Turkey
Israel has begun deporting hundreds of activists and international volunteers affiliated with the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) who had been detained. In a formal statement on Thursday (21 May) night local time, the GSF announced that all activists and volunteers, numbering 428, would begin to be released and repatriated to their respective countries. More than 50 flotilla ships were intercepted by Israeli forces as they sailed toward Gaza carrying humanitarian aid. The operation to halt the GSF flotilla was completed on Tuesday night local time.
“Let this be a reminder of what can be achieved by global mobilisation and sustained political pressure, and why this struggle must continue until all more than 9,600 Palestinian political prisoners are released and the blockade and illegal occupation end,” the GSF statement said. The legal aid organisation ADALAH said that most of the detained activists were taken to Ramon Airport in southern Israel for deportation proceedings. The remainder were repatriated through Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv.
Global Peace Convoy Indonesia (GPCI) also confirmed that nine Indonesian nationals detained by the Israeli military were released. Those Indonesians had previously been held at the Ktziot facility by Israeli authorities alongside hundreds of other international volunteers. They were scheduled to be repatriated via Istanbul, Turkey.
The detention of the activists and volunteers had sparked international condemnation after videos showing Israeli security personnel’s treatment of flotilla volunteers circulated. Many countries, including Indonesia, condemned Israel’s actions as violations of humanitarian principles and international law.
The Indonesian government also expressed appreciation to the Turkish government for its active assistance in the repatriation of the Indonesian volunteers. Yvonne explained that protection and the expedited repatriation of the nine Indonesian nationals captured by the Israeli military would proceed through all of Indonesia’s diplomatic channels. ADALAH said it had received official confirmation from the Israeli prison service and government officials that all detained activists had been released. Furthermore, Yvonne said that Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Sugiono had also been in contact with counterparts in several countries, including Turkey and Jordan. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the treatment was unacceptable and violated human dignity, especially since several Italian citizens were detained.