BarcelonaTwo days after the Israeli army intercepted them less than 60 km off the coast of Gaza, the Israeli government has moved to expel the Freedom Flotilla crew from the country, who were denouncing the blockade and genocide in the Strip. Four of them have already been deported from Israel and have either arrived at their destinations or are traveling, according to a statement from the legal aid organization Adalah. Among those expelled are Swedish Greta Thunberg, Spaniard Sergio Toribio, and a French activist and journalist, who have agreed to be deported. While eight more, including French MEP Rima Hassan, have refused to sign the papers to be expelled and will wait until Tuesday morning to discuss their departure from the country.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted two photos of Thunberg on a plane on social media and reported that she had just taken off on a flight to Sweden, via France. Benjamin Netanyahu's government does not want media pressure to continue and intends to close the sailboat episode. Madleen, that denounced the blockade in the Strip and called for solidarity with the Palestinian population against the genocide.
The Israeli government's repression of humanitarian workers and NGOs is nothing new. This Tuesday, Doctors of the World denounced the deaths of eight people during an Israeli attack on its "clearly identified" offices in Gaza. Among the dead were four children, a teenager, and three adults who were at the organization's facilities.
The 10 activists and two journalists were transferred to Tel Aviv airport on Tuesday for repatriation, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reported. "Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation," the ministry told X. The activists received comfort assistance from their respective countries at the airport.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry explained that during their detention, the activists were forced to watch videos of the Hamas attacks of October 7. "It is appropriate that the antisemite Greta Thunberg and her Hamas colleagues see exactly who they are working for," it said in a statement. Jaume Asens, lawyer and MEP for Comuns, denounced that "forcing people to watch political propaganda in prison is degrading treatment and prohibited by international law."
The Freedom Flotilla coalition, which chartered the boat, has stated that the activists' detention is "illegal and a violation of international law." The Israeli lawyer who represented them noted that at no point had they considered entering Israeli territorial waters. Madleen, which had French, German, Brazilian, Turkish, Swedish, Spanish and Dutch activists on board, left Italy on June 1 to "break the Israeli blockade" of Gaza, which is immersed in a disastrous humanitarian situation by Israeli attacks and blockade.
The sailboat was attacked by Israel on Monday morning as it attempted to reach the Gaza Strip with humanitarian aid on board and to raise awareness about the conditions of the blockade imposed on the Palestinian enclave. Escorted by two Israeli navy vessels, it arrived at the southern port of Ashdod that evening.
The Freedom Flotilla coalition, launched in 2010, is an international nonviolent movement in support of Palestinians, combining humanitarian aid and political protest against the blockade of the Gaza Strip. That year, Israeli guerrillas killed ten people when they attacked a Turkish boat, theMV Mavi Marmara, who was leading a small flotilla with the same goal. This year's initiative had already been attacked by an Israeli drone as it was preparing to depart for Gaza a few weeks ago in international waters near Malta.
More initiatives underway
The flotilla expedition coincides with other international initiatives to break the blockade of Gaza. Activists will fly to Cairo on June 12 and aim to reach the Rafah border between Egypt and Gaza on June 15, where they will demand the opening of the crossing. Palestinian cause.
France "has conveyed all the messages" to Israel so that "the protection" of its six nationals "is guaranteed" and that "they can return to French territory," declared Emmanuel Macron on Monday, denouncing the humanitarian blockade of Gaza as a "scandal in France." Convened by the left. Turkey, for its part, denounced an "atrocious attack" and a "flagrant violation of international law." deaths.
Madleen, after reaching the Egyptian coast, approached Gaza despite Israeli warnings against any attempt to "break the maritime blockade of Gaza, the main objective of which is to prevent the transfer of weapons to Hamas."
Israel is facing intense international pressure to end the war. Daily bombardments by its military have devastated the Gaza Strip, where residents are threatened with starvation due to the siege and harsh restrictions on humanitarian aid, according to the UN. Benjamin Netanyahu's government on Monday accused Greta Thunberg and others of "attempting to organize a media provocation for the sole purpose of publicity."
London sanctions two ultra-right ministers in Netanyahu's government
The United Kingdom has sanctioned Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir, Home Secretary, and Bezalel Smotrich, Finance Minister, for their racist remarks against the Palestinian population. London has imposed a travel ban and a freeze on their assets in the country.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the British decision, calling it "unfortunate and outrageous." Sa'ar said the government would meet early next week to decide on a response. The move marks a distancing of the United Kingdom from Israel and reflects Tel Aviv's current international isolation. However, London does not speak of genocide or war crimes.
