The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs expelled foreign activists from the flotilla to Gaza, after they were captured at sea.

On Thursday, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the expulsion of all foreign activists from the flotilla heading to the Gaza Strip, three days after they were captured at sea. Spokesman Oren Marmorstein stated that Israel will not allow any violation of the legal naval blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, without providing details about any potential trials of the activists.

Pro-Palestinian activists arrived in Istanbul on Thursday on a first flight, and two more flights from Israel were scheduled later. At the same time, Italy requested the European Union to impose sanctions on the far-right Israeli minister Itamar Ben Gvir, after he published a video recording in which the activists were humiliated after their arrest. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned the actions as a violation of fundamental human rights.