Israel to deport activists after Gaza aid ship blocked

Greta Thunberg and other activists who attempted to deliver aid to Gaza by sea are set to be deported from Israel after their sailboat was intercepted by the military, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said early on Tuesday.

The ministry announced on X that the passengers of the sailboat have arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to leave Israel and return to their home countries.

They were expected to leave the country "within the next few hours," the ministry said.

"Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation," the ministry wrote.

It added that consuls from the passengers' home countries met them at the airport.

The Madleen, from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), set sail from Sicily one week ago carrying aid for Palestinians and hoping to add pressure on Israel to end the war in Gaza.

However, they were intercepted by Israeli forces early on Monday after an order from Defence Minister Israel Katz.

The FFC said in a statement on Monday the Madleen was forcibly intercepted by the Israeli military in international waters, its crew detained and aid cargo seized.

FFC organizer Huwaida Arraf called the detentions unlawful, saying Israel had no jurisdiction over the volunteers. Israel's Foreign Ministry dismissed the mission as a "provocation" and referred to the Madleen as a "selfie yacht."