30.07.2025 18:34
Israel will deport five more activists from the Hanzala ship, which was on its way to deliver aid to Gaza. It has been reported that two activists held in Givon Prison are being subjected to poor conditions. Seven activists from Hanzala were deported yesterday.
Five activists from the Hanzala ship, which set out to break the blockade in Gaza and was detained in international waters by Israel, were brought to the airport today to be deported, while two others continue to be held in Givon Prison in Ramle.
Israeli human rights organization "Adalah" has made a statement regarding the activists of the Hanzala ship, who were detained by Israel while on their way to deliver aid to Gaza.
HUNGER STRIKE ON THE 5TH DAY
According to the statement from Adalah, the hunger strike initiated by American citizen Christian Smalls and Tunisian citizen Hatem Aouini to protest their unlawful detention, continues on its fifth day as they remain held under poor conditions in Givon Prison.
Smalls and Aouini, who met with Adalah's lawyers today, stated that two prison staff regularly conduct raids on their cells for searches.
"THE AREA WHERE THEY SLEEP IS FILLED WITH WOOD LICE"
Emphasizing that the area where they sleep is filled with wood lice and that they are deprived of basic hygiene materials, the activists stated that they are not allowed to spend time in the yard and are kept in closed cells all day without fresh air or space to move. Hanzala activists expect Smalls and Aouini to be deported tomorrow.
5 PEOPLE TO BE DEPORTED
On the other hand, 5 of the activists on the ship will be deported. It was announced that the Hanzala activists brought to the airport for deportation today include American citizen Braedon Peluso, dual citizen of the US and France Frank Romano, Santiago Gonzalez Vallejo and Sergio Toribio Sanchez from Spain, and Vigdis Bjorvand from Norway.
WHAT HAPPENED?
The Hanzala ship set sail from the Port of Syracuse, Italy, on July 13 but completed its final preparations at the Port of Gallipoli from July 15 to July 20 to address some technical needs.
It was reported that the ship, which set out on July 20 to deliver aid to Gaza, where deaths from hunger have occurred due to the blockade imposed by Israel, carried 21 activists from 10 different countries.
In a statement made via the Freedom Flotilla Coalition's WhatsApp channel, it was noted that the ship was intervened in international waters at the last hour of July 26, and Israeli soldiers removed security cameras. In a YouTube live broadcast initiated to follow the Hanzala ship, it was seen that Israeli soldiers boarded the deck and the passengers on the ship raised their hands.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the ship, which was raided in international waters, was towed towards the country's shores along with the detained activists. Of the activists brought to Ashdod (Usdud) Port on July 27, 2 Israeli citizens were taken to the police station and released, while 5 activists were deported on July 28.
Seven of the Hanzala activists were deported yesterday. A decision was made to keep 14 of the Hanzala activists in custody until they agreed to be deported on July 28, and the activists were transferred to Givon Prison in Ramle.