A Turkish foreign ministry statement said Turkey says 137 Gaza flotilla activists to arrive in Istanbul. These activists were detained by Israeli forces after trying to sail to Gaza. The group includes people from Turkey and many other nations.
The detained activists are being flown back under a special flight. Turkey says 137 Gaza flotilla activists to arrive in Istanbul in the afternoon. The flight is expected to land after 3:40 p.m. local time.
Out of the 137, 36 are Turkish nationals. The rest come from the U.S., UAE, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan. Many nations are watching closely.
More than 450 activists were detained overall. Israel intercepted roughly 40 boats tied to the Global Sumud Flotilla. That flotilla aimed to bring aid into Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
Some activists, including Italian lawmakers, claim they were treated harshly. They allege they were zip-tied, denied basic needs, and subjected to long hours in restraints. They demand fair treatment and safe return.
Israel says the detainees are in good health and safe. It also stated that it plans to deport them quickly. The Israeli government described the flotilla as a provocation of its naval blockade.
Italy reports 26 of its citizens were detained in the flotilla. Fifteen are still being held in Israel. Their expulsion is planned for the coming days. Other countries are working to secure the release of their citizens.
Turkey has strongly condemned the interception. It rejects the seizure as a violation of international law. Turkish officials promise diplomatic efforts to protect their nationals. The Turkish justice minister urged Israel to release all activists without delay, calling the treatment of detainees “crimes against humanity.”
Human rights groups say some detainees lacked access to lawyers, water, medicine, and toilets. They also say security forces forced activists to kneel with arms tied for hours.
The flotilla’s mission was symbolic and humanitarian. It sought to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade and deliver food and medicine to Gaza. The interception has drawn criticism from governments, NGOs and citizens around the world.
As the activists return, tensions remain high. Some worry about further diplomatic fallout. Others see this as a chance for renewed pressure to ease the Gaza blockade.
For now, the statement that Turkey says 137 Gaza flotilla activists to arrive in Istanbul captures the latest step in a dramatic day with potential ripple effects across the region.
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