Israel Deports 137 From Gaza Flotilla as Brazil Secures Prison Visit for Detained Nationals

Overview

• All 42 boats of the Global Sumud mission were intercepted in international waters, with roughly 470 participants detained and the final vessel, Marinette, boarded about 42.5 nautical miles off Gaza.
• Brazilian diplomats spent about eight hours with 13 nationals at Ketziot prison in Israel and reported them in stable health, including federal deputy Luizianne Lins.
• Israel confirmed deportations are underway, sending 137 detainees to Turkey after earlier removals of four Italians, and says it aims to expel the rest as quickly as possible.
• According to Brazilian and Israeli accounts, several Brazilians are willing to sign papers to expedite deportation while others refuse and face legal proceedings; activists are receiving representation from Adalah.
• Israel describes the flotilla as a provocation with alleged Hamas ties, a claim organizers reject, as protests spread internationally and Brazil tabled a UN Human Rights Council statement criticizing the interceptions.