Israel Expels All Activists on International Aid Ship Bound for Gaza Strip

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\r\n[Financial News]  Israel has expelled all foreign activists it was detaining after seizing an international aid ship that was sailing to break the maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip, AFP reported on the 21st local time.
\r\nThe move came abruptly amid fierce international criticism and diplomatic fallout after videos surfaced showing harsh treatment of the detained activists by Israeli authorities.
In a statement released that day, Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, said, "All foreign activists aboard the aid ship have been expelled from Israel," adding, "Israel will not allow any attempt to violate its lawful maritime blockade of the Gaza Strip."
Earlier, on the 18th, more than 430 activists from around the world were seized at sea by the Israeli military while trying to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. They had been held at Ktzi'ot Prison in the Negev Desert near the Gaza Strip.
The incident escalated uncontrollably after a video posted on social media on the 20th by Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's Minister of National Security, went viral. The footage showed activists lying face down with their hands tied and their foreheads pressed to the ground, while Ben-Gvir waved the Flag of Israel and jeered among them. The video included the caption, "Welcome to Israel."
After the video was released, governments around the world, including Italy, Spain, Australia, and Canada, issued strong condemnations. As the backlash grew, even inside Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gideon Sa'ar criticized Ben-Gvir, while Mike Huckabee, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, also expressed concern.
Meanwhile, following the expulsions, the Turkish government dispatched three special charter flights to Ramon Airport in southern Israel to transport its nationals and participants from third countries. Activists with Egyptian and Jordanian nationality were reportedly handed over to their home countries through the Taba and Aqaba border crossings, respectively.
\r\nTwo South Koreans who were aboard the aid ship were reportedly expelled immediately without being transferred to a detention facility.
Since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, Israel has maintained its blockade policy by controlling all entry points. In particular, after the Gaza War broke out following Hamas's surprise attack on October 7, 2023, Israel has sharply restricted or completely blocked aid deliveries, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip, including severe shortages of food and medicine.
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jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-joon Reporter