Israel's foreign ministry said on Thursday that foreign activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla detained by Israeli forces have been deported, as international outcry over their treatment by authorities continues.
"All foreign activists from the PR flotilla have been deported from Israel," the ministry said in a statement posted on X. "Israel will not permit any breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza."
The roughly 430 activists from countries around the world had been placed in detention in Israel after being intercepted at sea on Monday near Cyprus. They were undertaking the latest in a string of attempts to break the blockade Gaza by Israel.
Leaders across the world had been calling for the detainees' release after video footage emerged of Israeli National Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir taunting them while in custody.
Footage posted to his X account showed Ben-Gvir berating detainees and waving a large Israeli flag as they were forced to kneel with their hands tied behind their backs.
