Türkiye to Repatriate 18 Detained Citizens From Gaza Flotilla Friday

Türkiye will repatriate eighteen citizens detained during Israel's interception of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition in a special flight operation scheduled for Friday afternoon. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli confirmed the arrangement Thursday, noting the flight will also transport approximately eighty international activists detained during the same humanitarian mission.

The repatriation initiative demonstrates Türkiye's commitment to securing the release of all detained activists, regardless of nationality. Three Turkish parliament members who participated in the flotilla already returned to Turkish territory Thursday evening, having been detained aboard vessels attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

Israeli naval forces intercepted the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's "Thousand Madleens to Gaza" convoy early Wednesday in international waters approximately 120 nautical miles from Gaza's coast. The incident continues Israel's pattern of intercepting civilian vessels attempting to breach its naval blockade of the Palestinian territory, established eighteen years ago.

The latest interception follows similar actions against the Global Sumud Flotilla last week, where Israeli forces seized over forty boats and detained more than 450 activists. These maritime confrontations occur against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza that has caused extensive Palestinian casualties and created severe humanitarian conditions since October 2023.