Gaza flotilla activists describe Israeli detention experience upon arrival in Türkiye
Activists from the Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla who had been detained by Israel and then deported to Türkiye described their experience to the press on arrival in Istanbul. The group of 422 was brought into the country with the coordination of the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
At a press conference at Istanbul Airport, activists carrying passports from Türkiye, Malaysia, Ireland and Spain described the detention process during and after Israel's intervention against the flotilla's vessels. One activist said that requests for medical screening had been met with delays but that they had largely been able to access their personal belongings from the ship.
The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the group of 422 was brought to the country with consular coordination. The ministry statement said the statements received about detention conditions will be forwarded to the relevant international mechanisms. Activists from countries other than Türkiye were also reported in the group; most were released after deportation procedures were completed.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry has stated in earlier announcements that preventing the flotilla's vessels from approaching the blockaded coastline complied with international maritime law. The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights renewed its request for an independent assessment of the intervention's conditions, while some European Union member states asked for individual briefings.
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