Two Turkish nationals who were among the activists on a Gaza-bound aid ship intercepted by Israeli forces have left Israel, Turkish media reported on Thursday, citing the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
Şuayp Ordu and Yasemin Acar, who is of Kurdish descent and also has German citizenship, were among 12 people detained after Israeli forces seized the Madleen aid ship in international waters on June 9, approximately 185 kilometers west of Gaza.
According to Turkish officials, Ordu and Acar were deported to Germany. Turkish diplomats had remained in contact with Acar’s family, providing updates on her situation throughout her detention.
Four of the 12 activists, including two French citizens and Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, agreed to immediate deportation. The remaining eight refused to leave voluntarily and were held for more than 72 hours before appearing in court. All 12 have been banned from entering Israel for 100 years.
Israeli rights group Adalah, which is representing the detainees, said six activists have now been transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for deportation. Two French nationals remain in custody and are expected to be deported on June 13.
Adalah also reported that Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament from France’s Unbowed (LFI) party and of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian activist Thiago Avila were placed in solitary confinement. Hassan was later removed from isolation.
“While in custody, volunteers were subjected to mistreatment, punitive measures and aggressive treatment,” Adalah said, adding that two detainees were put in solitary confinement during their detention.