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Saturday 5 November 2011

Israel begins deporting Gaza flotilla activists

Haaretz
Jack Khoury
Anshel Pfeffer

Israel Navy intercepted two vessels with 27 activists, medical supplies sailing from Turkey to Gaza on Friday; one Israeli citizen released, two Greek citizens flown home Saturday, two journalists flying Sunday.

Israeli authorities on Saturday began deporting pro-Palestinian activists who tried to breach the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli navy on Friday intercepted a Canadian vessel and an Irish boat carrying 27 activists and medical supplies which had set sail from Turkey toward Gaza.

An Israeli Immigration Authority spokeswoman said two Greek citizens were flown home on Saturday and two journalists, one American, and one Spanish, were to board flights on Sunday.

One Israeli citizen was released, as was an Egyptian woman who had crossed back to neighboring Egypt overnight, the spokeswoman said. Twenty one other activists were being held in custody in Israel and were awaiting deportation.

Israel's navy has intercepted similar protest ships in the past, towing them to Ashdod and detaining participants. Israel says its naval blockade of Gaza is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching militant groups like Hamas, the Iran-backed group that rules the territory. Critics call the blockade collective punishment of Gaza's residents.

Israel's [...]



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