Israel says it has deported another 137 activists detained when a flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza was intercepted this week.
The Israeli foreign ministry said those expelled on Saturday are citizens of 14 countries, including the US and UK. On Friday, four Italian activists were deported.
Israeli authorities arrested about 470 people as dozens of vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) were stopped by Israeli forces from reaching Gaza.
The GSF called the interceptions illegal, while Israel described the flotilla’s actions as a “publicity stunt”. The blocking of the flotilla sparked protests around the world.
In a post on X on Saturday, the Israeli foreign ministry said 137 “provocateurs” had been deported to Turkey.
Those expelled are citizens of the UK, US, Italy, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Malaysia, Bahrain, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Turkey, the ministry said.
The first boats were stopped on Wednesday in international waters about 70 nautical miles (130km) off Gaza. Israel has been policing this area but does not have jurisdiction there.
Grainy night-time footage livestreamed from some of the boats showed them sailing towards Gaza.
Israel said its navy told the boats to change course as they were “approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade”.
On Friday, the Israeli foreign ministry said: “Already four Italian citizens have been deported. The rest are in the process of being deported. Israel is keen to end this procedure as quickly as possible.”
It added that all detainees were in good health. The GSF has alleged that many activists were assaulted with water cannon while their boats were intercepted.
The foreign ministry’s initial statement mentioned the presence of Swedish activist Greta Thunberg on one of the boats, but did not give further details on her status.
In a statement on Friday, the GSF said: “Over 38 hours, Israeli occupation naval forces illegally intercepted all 42 of our vessels – each carrying humanitarian aid, volunteers, and the determination to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza.”
It said the last of its boats, the Marinette, was intercepted at 10:29 local time on Friday, approximately 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza in international waters.
“This is an illegal attack on unarmed humanitarians. We call on governments and international institutions to demand their immediate safety and release,” it added.
Five of the vessels intercepted on Thursday are now moored at the Israeli Ashdod Naval Base, tracking website Marine Traffic showed on Friday.
The BBC has asked the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) whether it plans to return the vessels to their owners and how long those detained will be held.
The GSF flotilla set sail for Gaza from Spain at the end of last month, with other boats joining from Tunisia and other ports later, the GSF said.
Protests in support of the flotilla and against the war in Gaza ramped up around the world as the boats neared the Strip, in countries including Spain, Italy, Colombia and Argentina.
Additional reporting by Matt Murphy and Richard Irvine-Brown
