Gaza-bound ship seized: ‘Five French activists to face Israeli justice’; one returns voluntarily
Five French activists detained by Israeli forces on a Gaza-bound aid ship are set to appear before an Israeli judge, France’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.“Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night,” foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot wrote in a post on X. “One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings,” the minister added.The activists were aboard the
Madleen
, a boat carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, when it was intercepted in international waters and redirected to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was also among the 12 international volunteers who were detained. Organizers said the group was attempting to deliver much-needed aid to Gaza when Israeli forces boarded their ship.After reaching Israel, the detainees were given medical checkups. The Israeli foreign ministry confirmed their detention. Defence minister Yoav Gallant stated the activists were shown footage of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.
