Gaza aid flotilla activists flown to Türkiye from Israel

Activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla who were detained by Israeli forces in international waters are being flown to Türkiye on Thursday aboard Turkish Airlines flights following their release from Ketziot Prison. The activists were transferred from the Negev desert facility to Ramon Airport in southern Israel earlier Thursday, where deportation procedures were completed. More than 420 participants — including 78 Turkish nationals — were subsequently boarded onto three separate aircraft bound for Istanbul, according to sources familiar with the operation.

Diplomatic coordination

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said earlier Thursday that Ankara had arranged special flights to return Turkish citizens and international participants to Türkiye. "A special flight has been planned to bring our citizens and third-country nationals back," Fidan told reporters, noting that the Foreign Ministry had coordinated the operation with Israeli authorities.

Flotilla seized in international waters

The Global Sumud Flotilla stated Tuesday that Israeli forces had seized all 50 vessels in its convoy following attacks in international waters. The flotilla — which carried 428 people from 44 countries — departed last Thursday from the Turkish district of Marmaris in a renewed attempt to break the blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007, organizers said.

The activists had attempted to deliver humanitarian supplies to the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli blockade since 2007. Thursday's deportations conclude a week-long detention that began when Israeli forces boarded the vessels in international waters.