Detained Flotilla Activists Launch Hunger Strike as Israel Prepares Mass Deportation
Hundreds of protesters refuse food in defiance, as Israeli authorities process 470 individuals for expulsion after seizing nearly all aid vessels.
In a dramatic escalation of the maritime standoff, activists detained from the humanitarian “Global Sumud Flotilla” have begun an indefinite hunger strike, even as Israeli authorities move forward with plans to deport them.
According to the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza, several detainees announced they would refuse food “from the moment of their detention” in protest of their seizure and Israel’s long-standing blockade of Gaza. This act of defiance comes as Israeli police confirmed they have processed more than 470 activists at Ashdod port, readying them for deportation.
The operation involved over 600 police officers who conducted what was described as a “thorough inspection process.” The detainees have now been transferred to Israel’s immigration and prison services to finalize their removal from the country.
The confrontation began when the Israeli navy intercepted the flotilla in international waters. The activists, hailing from approximately 50 countries, were aboard a mission to deliver humanitarian aid and challenge the 18-year blockade on Gaza, home to 2.3 million people.
With only one vessel, the Marinette, remaining at large, Israeli authorities have stated their navy will intercept it if it continues toward Gaza, signaling a near-total end to the flotilla campaign.
Source: International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza / Al Jazeera
