Flotilla Activists Deported to Türkiye on Turkish Airlines Flights

(MENAFN) Activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, detained by Israel following attacks on their vessels in international waters, were placed on Turkish Airlines flights to Türkiye Thursday as deportation procedures moved swiftly forward.

The detainees were transferred from Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert to Ramon Airport in southern Israel, where deportation formalities were completed, sources told media. More than 420 activists — including 78 Turkish nationals — were then boarded onto three separate Turkish Airlines aircraft at the airport.

The first flight departed for Istanbul following procedures coordinated by Türkiye's Foreign Ministry, with the remaining aircraft expected to land in the Turkish city later Thursday. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed earlier in the day that a dedicated flight had been arranged to bring Turkish citizens and participants from third countries back to Türkiye.

The Global Sumud humanitarian flotilla disclosed Tuesday that all 50 vessels in its convoy had been seized by Israel in international waters. The flotilla, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, had departed from the Turkish district of Marmaris the previous Thursday in a renewed effort to break the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip that has been in place since 2007.

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