Tel Aviv: Three foreign activists aboard a Gaza-bound aid ship seized by Israel have agreed to be deported to their home countries, an Israeli legal centre announced. The Adalah Centre reported that Antonio Mazzeo of Italy, Gabrielle Cathala of France, and US activist Jacob Berger have consented to immediate deportation.
According to TRTworld.com, the legal centre stated that the deportation of the three activists is expected to occur within the coming hours. Meanwhile, fifteen other activists, including nationals from Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Tunisia, Norway, the UK, and the US, have refused to sign deportation orders and remain in Israeli custody pending a tribunal hearing.
Two dual US-Israeli nationals, Huwaida Arraf and Bob Suberi, were released after police interrogation and are currently with Adalah’s legal team, as per the centre’s statement. Adalah also mentioned they have not yet been able to meet with four other detainees: Ange Sahuquet of France, Dr. Frank Romano, a dual US-French citizen, and Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed El-Bakkali of Morocco and cameraman Waad Al Musa, a US-Iraqi citizen.
The aid ship, launched by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail from Italy in an attempt to break a months-long Israeli siege, which has led to widespread starvation. In recent months, Israel has intercepted multiple Gaza-bound aid ships in international waters, including the Madleen in June and the MV Conscience in May.
Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for 18 years, and since March 2, has closed all crossings, blocking aid convoys despite international calls to reopen them. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 133 people have died of starvation since October 2023, including 87 children, with nearly 60,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, killed in the blockaded enclave.
The official WAFA news agency reported that approximately 11,000 Palestinians are feared buried under rubble of destroyed homes. Experts suggest the actual death toll could be significantly higher, estimating it around 200,000. The ongoing conflict has left most of the enclave in ruins and displaced nearly all of its population.
Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.