Israel deports Greta Thunberg, 170 activists detained from Gaza aid Flotilla

New Delhi, Oct 6: Israel has deported Greta Thunberg and 170 other activists who were detained after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of civilian boats attempting to deliver aid to Gaza last week.

According to Israeli authorities, around 470 people aboard more than 40 vessels were stopped by naval forces before reaching Gaza. The flotilla was intercepted about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, in an area under Israeli patrol but outside its territorial waters. The 171 deported activists have been sent to Greece and Slovakia, and include citizens from 19 countries, including Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, the UK, and the United States.

The deportations follow a series of similar actions over the past week, with 137 detainees sent to Turkey, 29 to Spain, and four Italian citizens also deported earlier. Israeli officials have described the flotilla as an attempt to breach the naval blockade on Gaza, while the organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla have called the interception “illegal” and accused Israel of obstructing humanitarian efforts.