02.05.2026 00:50
The plane that brought the participants of the Global Sumud Fleet, detained by Israel, from Crete to Turkey has landed at Istanbul Airport. On board were a total of 59 people, including Turkish citizens and fleet participants from the USA, Argentina, Australia, Bahrain, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Chile, and New Zealand.
The plane bringing participants of the Global Sumud Fleet, detained by Israel, from Crete to Turkey has arrived in Istanbul.
The plane carrying participants of the Global Sumud Fleet, detained by Israel, from Crete to Turkey has landed in Istanbul. It has been learned that two citizens are expected to be in Turkey tomorrow.
18 TURKISH CITIZENS ARRIVED
According to information obtained from sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the plane bringing participants of the Global Sumud Fleet, detained by Israel, from Crete to Turkey has landed in Istanbul.
It has been learned that 18 of the detained Turkish citizens have returned to Turkey, while two citizens who could not board this plane due to health checks are expected to be in Turkey tomorrow. Citizens from 4 USA, 5 Argentina, 2 Australia, 1 Bahrain, 2 Brazil, 6 Great Britain, 1 Netherlands, 3 Spain, 2 Italy, 10 Malaysia, 1 Mexico, 1 Pakistan, 1 Chile, and 2 New Zealand also arrived in Istanbul.
GLOBAL SUMUD FLEET
The Global Sumud Fleet 2026 Spring Mission, aimed at breaking Israel's blockade on Gaza and delivering vital humanitarian aid, set sail from Barcelona, Spain on April 12 into the Mediterranean.
With participants joining from Italy's Sicily Island, the fleet set off again on April 26 with 345 participants from 39 different countries, including Turks.
The Israeli army, on the night of April 29, unlawfully intervened in international waters off the coast of Crete Island, attacking the boats carrying activists.
ISRAEL DETAINED 175 ACTIVISTS
In the attack, which took place 600 nautical miles from Gaza and a few miles outside Greek territorial waters, the Israeli army detained 175 activists and mistreated them.
The Israeli army also damaged the other boats, except for a group that returned to Greek waters, rendering them unseaworthy.
Injuring 31 activists, the Israeli army released the group, except for two fleet coordinators, on May 1 on Greece's Crete Island.
While some of the released activists have begun leaving Greece, dozens of Global Sumud Fleet boats remain in Greek territorial waters awaiting the continuation of the mission.