A total of 422 participants from the Global Sumud Flotilla, including 85 Turkish citizens, departed Israel on special flights coordinated by Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry after being detained by Israeli forces, diplomatic sources said Thursday.
Foreign Ministry sources said the evacuation operation was carried out under the coordination of the ministry and supervised by officials from Türkiye’s Embassy in Tel Aviv.
The activists, who had been held following Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, left Ramon Airport in southern Israel and were en route to Türkiye aboard chartered flights, the sources said.
The group included Turkish citizens as well as nationals from several third countries who had participated in the aid flotilla headed toward Gaza.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan earlier on Thursday said Ankara was working with all relevant agencies for the safety and return of citizens held by Israel after the illegal intervention on the flotilla. “We will continue safeguarding the rights of our citizens and fulfill our responsibility towards civilians in Gaza. We will continue our support to the people of Palestine resolutely,” he said.
