Tearful Scenes as Hundreds of Global Sumud Activists Arrive in Istanbul

Activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was briefly detained by Israel in international waters on Monday, have begun to be deported from Tel Aviv and arrived in Istanbul on Thursday, 21 May 2026 local time. Three Turkish Airlines jets carrying the activists landed at Istanbul Airport on Thursday night. The flotilla aimed to breach the Gaza blockade to deliver essential humanitarian aid to Palestinians in the enclave. The flotilla activists were greeted by their families and a number of officials in the airport’s VIP lounge. Following the reception, the activists were scheduled to undergo checks at Istanbul’s Forensic Medicine Institute as part of an investigation opened by the prosecutor in Istanbul. Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said the government had prepared a special flight to repatriate Turkish nationals and participants from various other countries who took part in the flotilla back to Turkey.