Turkey said Friday it would repatriate some 20 Turkish nationals from a Gaza-bound aid flotilla intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Crete, as dozens of activists from the vessels disembarked on the Greek island.
Escorted by Greek coast guards, around 175 activists, most of them nationals of European countries, were taken in four busses to the port of Atherinolakkos, in southeastern Crete.
As they approached the port, the activists chanted “Free Palestine,” according to AFP journalists.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said earlier that around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 vessels on Thursday. Flotilla organizers put the number at 211.
Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said some 20 Turkish nationals in the flotilla who had been “seized” by Israeli forces and taken to Crete would be repatriated. It said “certain participants from third countries” would also be sent to Turkey.
The flotilla, comprising more than 50 vessels, set sail in recent weeks from Marseille in France, Barcelona in Spain and Syracuse in Italy.
Organizers said their aim was to break the blockade of Gaza and bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory.
Israel controls all entry points to Gaza. The United Nations and foreign NGOs have accused Israel of restricting the flow of goods into the territory, causing shortages since the start of Israel’s offensive against Hamas in October 2023.
The Gaza Strip has been under an Israeli blockade since 2007.
Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Oren Marmorstein said Friday that “all the flotilla activists are now in Greece except Saif Abu Keshek and Thiago Avila.”
The ministry said Keshek was “suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization” and that he and Avila, suspected of “illegal activity,” would be taken to Israel for questioning.
Several European governments whose nationals were among those detained called on Israel to free the activists and said its action violated international law.
The United States backed Israel, calling the flotilla a “stunt” and saying it expects allies to deny port access, docking, departure and refueling to vessels taking part in the flotilla.
A State Department spokesman said Washington was considering “consequences” for those who support the flotilla.
Israel’s offensive in Gaza, launched after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, has led to shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel.
In the summer and autumn of 2025, the first voyage by the Global Sumud Flotilla across the Mediterranean toward Gaza attracted worldwide attention.
The boats in that flotilla were intercepted by Israel off the coasts of Egypt and the Gaza Strip in early October.
Crew members, including Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, were detained and later expelled by Israel.
© Agence France-Presse