Activists Deported After Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Boat

Thu Oct 30 2025 16:33:50 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Six activists, including a member of the European Parliament, have been deported from Israel after their boat attempting to breach the Gaza blockade was intercepted.

Following the interception of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla in international waters, six of the eight activists in custody have been deported from Israel, with allegations of mistreatment during their detention. The incident has raised further concerns over Israel’s strict blockade of Gaza amidst an ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Six activists, part of an initiative to deliver aid to Gaza via a boat named Madleen, have been deported from Israel after their vessel was intercepted. This action has sparked further outrage regarding Israel's stringent blockade of the Palestinian territory.

The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed that the deported group included Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament. Human rights group Adalah reported the activists were transferred to Ben Gurion Airport after spending over 72 hours in custody following the interception. While six were sent home, two others remain in Israeli custody, awaiting their deportation scheduled for Friday.

Adalah, which provided legal support to the activists, echoed concerns over the treatment of those detained, stating that volunteers faced mistreatment and were subjected to punitive measures, including solitary confinement for some. They emphasized that the detention and forced deportation of the activists are unlawful and indicative of Israel's broader violations of international law.

The group had initially set sail with the intent of delivering a "symbolic" amount of aid, amidst ongoing humanitarian woes in Gaza resulting from the blockade. The Israeli foreign ministry derided the mission, referring to the boat as a "selfie yacht" carrying "less than a single truckload of aid." This dismissive characterization has drawn criticism, especially given the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where ongoing military actions and restrictions have left the local population struggling with food shortages and other essentials.

Among the remaining activists initially detained was well-known climate activist Greta Thunberg, who branded her interception as a kidnapping while calling for immediate assistance for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The situation remains tense as the conflict escalates further, and humanitarian efforts continue to face significant obstacles under the Israeli blockade and with the reshuffling of aid distribution channels.

Reports indicate that the needs of the 2.1 million residents in Gaza remain dire, with warnings of catastrophic hunger levels being issued as humanitarian aid deliveries have been hampered significantly.