Overview

• Most flotilla participants remain in Israeli custody after the interception in international waters, while four Italian MPs have returned and about 20 Italian activists are slated to fly back Saturday on a coordinated special flight via Istanbul.
• Israeli authorities are preparing additional removals, including opening the Allenby crossing to transfer Arab nationals to Amman and considering charter and regular flights for others, with some delays attributed to Yom Kippur.
• Legal NGO Adalah alleges detainees were denied lawyers, water, toilets and medicine, forced to kneel with hands bound for hours, and subjected to harassment, while some refused to sign statements admitting illegal entry and began a hunger strike.
• Israel disputes the mission’s humanitarian character, releasing footage it says shows little or no aid on board and calling the voyage a political provocation with extremist ties; Italian and Israeli officials say expulsions are being expedited.
• The UN human rights office condemned the interception as worsening an illegal blockade, Spain and Ireland criticized the action as contrary to international law, and Colombia announced the expulsion of Israel’s diplomatic delegation after its citizens were detained.