Israel arrest Flotilla members with deportations expected on Thursday

Israel has arrested activists travelling on the latest Global Sumud Flotilla, aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, with deportations expected on Thursday. 

Spain's Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, announced the activists will be deported, but pointed out that this has not yet been officially confirmed, although the information is circulating among consular organizations.

The activists are in a detention centre and have had access to lawyers, although the Spanish consul has not been able to contact them.

Albares said that, although there is no official count, the number of Spaniards held is 44. According to the Flotilla organizers, around twenty are Catalan.

The deportation comes after allegations of “extreme violence, sexual humiliation, and injuries” to activists.

This Wednesday, Albares summoned the acting Israeli ambassador in Spain, Dana Erlich, for consultations to express his rejection of the “monstrous, undignified, and inhumane” treatment of the activists.

Albares also described a video released by Israel’s Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, as “hateful, inhuman and monstrous.” The video shows security forces violently handling activists, and activists with their hands tied and being humiliated, and have provoked rejection from other governments such as Italy's.