Türkiye securing return of Gaza flotilla activists as Israel to deport abductees via Ramon Airport

Türkiye is working with all relevant institutions to ensure the safety and secure return of its citizens detained by Israel, following the illegal intervention against the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Thursday.

In a statement on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, Fidan said special flights scheduled for later in the day are expected to bring Turkish citizens, as well as participants of the aid flotilla from third countries, back to Türkiye.

The statement stressed that Türkiye will continue to protect the rights of its citizens while fulfilling its humanitarian responsibilities towards civilians in Gaza.

Fidan also reaffirmed Ankara’s continued support for the Palestinian people.

All Gaza-bound flotilla activists released from Israeli detention

On Thursday, Israeli rights group Adalah said all detained activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla and Freedom Flotilla Coalition had been released from Israel’s Ktziot prison ahead of deportation.

In a statement, Adalah said it had received “official confirmation” from the Israeli Prison Service and state officials that all activists held at the detention facility had been released and were being transferred for deportation.

“The majority of the participants are being transferred to Ramon Airport to be flown out of the country,” the group said.

Adalah added that its legal team was “actively monitoring the transit process to ensure that all activists are safely and fully deported without further delay.”