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Israeli naval forces detained 480 activists from more than 50 countries after attacking the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters over a two-day operation that concluded on Friday, Israeli officials said.
Israeli forces attacked 42 vessels since late Wednesday, seizing the Marinette, the flotilla's last active vessel, on Friday morning in international waters near the besieged Palestinian enclave, according to organizers and Israeli officials.
The flotilla, carrying mainly humanitarian aid and medical supplies, set sail in late August to break the 18-year blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza. Israel tightened the siege in March by closing all border crossings and blocking food, medicine and aid, pushing the territory toward famine.
Prominent figures detained include Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, South African activist and former lawmaker Nkosi Zwelivelile "Mandla" Mandela, grandson of Nelson Mandela, and former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who served from 2015 to 2023.
European Parliament members detained include Rima Hassan and Emma Fourreau of France's France Unbowed party. Spanish regional lawmakers Juan Bordera of the Compromis Coalition and Pilar Castillejo of Catalonia's parliament were also aboard.
Other detained politicians include Portuguese economist and parliament member Mariana Mortagua, Irish Sinn Fein Senator Chris Andrews, Italian Chamber of Deputies lawmaker Arturo Scotto and Argentinian politician Maria Celeste Fierro.
Human rights activists detained include Brazilian Thiago Avila, a flotilla steering committee member who participated in previous Gaza missions, American labor organizer Chris Smalls and Irish comedian and filmmaker Tadhg Hickey.
Also detained were Greek historian and flotilla steering committee member Kleoniki Alexopoulou, former Fortaleza Mayor Luizianne Lins, former Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and Malaysian humanitarian coordinator Muhammad Nadir Al-Nuri.
United Nations (UN) officials condemned the use of force against civilians in international waters.
"Of course the use of lethal force against civilians is contrary to international human rights law and humanitarian law," Rolando Gomez, head of the UN Geneva Office Information Unit Press and External Relations Department, said at a weekly press conference.
"Israel must comply with international human rights standards," he noted.
UNICEF Emergency Communications Director Ricardo Pires said the world is angry about what has been happening in Gaza for nearly two years.
"The Global Sumud Flotilla is just one symbol of that," Pires said.
"Their inability to pass, being stopped, no humanitarian aid being delivered to Gaza and no corridor being opened is another example of the difficulties that the UN also experiences every day," he added.
Turkish Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc also called for the immediate release of detained activists.
"You have inflicted immense suffering on the people of Palestine by violating international law and fundamental human rights," Tunc said at an event in Edirne province.
"You continue to commit acts of genocide in full view of the world," he stated.
Israeli National Security Minister who's also a known far-right figure, Itamar Ben-Gvir reportedly said activists will be held under "terror prisoner" conditions at the high-security Ketziot Prison.
"We are at Ketziot Prison, these flotilla members are terror supporters, now they are being placed in a security prison," Ben-Gvir said in footage aired by Israel's Channel 14.
"Game over. Here they will stay under the same conditions as terrorists, they will wear prisoner uniforms, all conditions will be the same."
A sign showing destruction in Gaza with Arabic text reading "New Gaza" was hung in the courtyard of the section holding flotilla activists, according to Israeli media.
Israeli Foreign Ministry officials stated that deportation procedures have begun but will take some time to complete. Four activists have been deported, though their identities were not disclosed.
Italy's Foreign Ministry noted that four Italian lawmakers detained on the flotilla have been released.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he requested assistance from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to bring Malaysian volunteers to Istanbul with a special aircraft. At least 23 Malaysians were part of the flotilla.
"I have requested the good offices of President Erdogan to, if possible, bring our volunteers from any location around Israel to Istanbul on a special Turkish aircraft that will be carrying his own citizens," Anwar told reporters after Friday prayers in Kuala Lumpur.
The Israeli army has killed over 66,200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, since October 2023, according to Palestinian health authorities.
The relentless bombardment has left the enclave nearly uninhabitable, with starvation and disease spreading rapidly.
The Global Sumud Flotilla represents the largest collective attempt in years to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel's blockade of the enclave, home to nearly 2.4 million people.
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