Tel Aviv, May 23, (dpa/GNA) – Israel has begun deporting hundreds of activists from an aid flotilla, that was intercepted en route to Gaza, the Adalah human rights
organization said on Thursday, as criticism mounted over the treatment of the participants detained in Israel.
Adalah said all participants in the international Gaza Sumud Flotilla have been released from prison in Israel, and were now on their way to be deported, most of them from Ramon Airport in the south of the country.
The Israeli news portal ynet reported, citing Adalah, that four activists have already been flown out via Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
Adalah accused Israel of torturing, humiliating and unlawfully detaining peaceful activists, as outrage grew over a video showing Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, mocking and taunting the handcuffed detainees. The video, posted on Wednesday, drew widespread criticism from European governments. Italy, Poland and Britain summoned Israeli diplomats to protest, while Greece and the Netherlands also lodged complaints with the Israeli government.
Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani, described the treatment of the activists in a letter to the European Commission as a violation of their basic human rights, and called for EU foreign ministers to discuss possible punitive measures at their next meeting.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, also condemned the actions, demanding the immediate release of Polish citizens and treatment in line with international standards.
A spokesman for the European Commission said the treatment of the activists shown in the video was “completely unacceptable.” He called on the Israeli government to “ensure the protection and dignified treatment of these activists.” Even the US ambassador, Mike Huckabee, usually a staunch supporter of Israel, condemned Ben Gvir’s behaviour as “despicable.” He described the Global Sumud Flotilla as a “stupid stunt,” but said the far-right minister had “betrayed dignity of his nation.”
Criticism also came from Israel, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, distanced themselves from Ben-Gvir’s actions, while a ynet report said there is anger within the army towards Ben-Gvir.
Israel stopped the 50 boats of the aid flotilla in international waters off Cyprus at the start of the week. Around 430 activists had sought to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
GNA