Hundreds of activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla arrived in Istanbul on Thursday after Türkiye secured the return of those illegally detained by Israel following the interception of the aid mission aimed at breaking the blockade on Gaza and delivering humanitarian assistance.
The activists had departed Israel aboard Turkish Airlines flights under Turkish coordination after being held following the interception of their vessels in international waters.
Speaking to TRT World upon arrival, one activist described conditions during detention and mistreatment by Israeli forces. “We were subjected to physical abuse, prolonged restraint and mistreatment during detention, and some detainees suffered injuries and assaults,” the activist said.
The activist added that the experience raised broader concerns about the treatment of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities.
“If this is what we experienced in a short period near facilities holding Palestinians, one can only imagine the conditions thousands of Palestinian detainees face,” the activist said.
Turkish authorities received the activists at Istanbul Airport, while some injured arrivals were transferred for medical care and further examinations.
The activists were transferred from Ketziot Prison in the Negev desert to Ramon Airport in southern Israel, where deportation procedures were completed, sources told Anadolu.
More than 420 activists, including 78 Turkish nationals, were then boarded onto three separate Turkish Airlines aircraft at Ramon Airport.
The first plane carrying activists departed for Istanbul following procedures coordinated by Türkiye’s foreign ministry, while the remaining flights are also expected to arrive in the Turkish city later on Thursday.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said earlier on Thursday that a special flight had been planned to bring Turkish citizens and participants from third countries involved in the Global Sumud Flotilla back to Türkiye.
The Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla said on Tuesday that all 50 vessels in its convoy had been seized by Israel following attacks in international waters.
The flotilla, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, departed last Thursday from the Turkish district of Marmaris in a new attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza since 2007.
