Israeli minister sparks outcry over video of bound flotilla activists
Israel on May 21 deported hundreds of activists who attempted to breach Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, after a video posted by Israel’s far-right national security minister sparked international condemnation.
Türkiye sent three planes to Israel to repatriate Gaza flotilla activists, with the activists expected to arrive at the Istanbul airport on May 21 evening.
“We plan to bring our citizens and participants from third countries to Türkiye via special charter flights we will organize today,” Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in a statement.
The Israel-based legal advocacy group, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, or Adalah, said that most of the roughly 430 international activists were transferred to a civilian airport near the southernmost city of Eilat for deportation.
