A plane carrying 59 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla landed at Istanbul Airport late Friday after the group was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean. As reported by Daily Sabah, the group included 18 Turkish nationals and citizens from 14 other countries, such as the United States, United Kingdom, Spain, and Malaysia.
The passengers were greeted by relatives and officials at the airport’s VIP terminal following their arrival on a special Turkish Airlines flight from Crete. According to Yeni Safak, two additional Turkish nationals were unable to board the flight due to medical requirements and are expected to return on Saturday.
What are the circumstances surrounding the interception?
The Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Barcelona in April with the stated objective of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenging the existing blockade. According to flotilla organizers, the vessels were intercepted by Israeli military forces late on April 29 in international waters off the coast of Crete.
Organizers stated the fleet was targeted approximately 600 nautical miles from its destination. Following the interception, reports indicate that boats were damaged and activists were detained by military personnel before their eventual repatriation to Türkiye.
What are the next steps for the activists?
The returnees are scheduled to undergo medical evaluations at the Istanbul Forensic Medicine Institute. According to Daily Sabah, these examinations are part of an official investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into the actions taken by Israeli forces.
Turkish authorities have confirmed that the investigation seeks to address the circumstances of the interception in international waters. Officials are currently monitoring the process as the activists continue to arrive and undergo necessary health screenings.
