Israel has expelled another 171 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, including Swedish environmentalist Greta Thunberg. Dozens were repatriated today between Greece and Slovakia on flights organized by the governments of the activists involved, according to Israeli authorities and confirmed by European diplomatic sources.

Following the Israeli navy's October 1 attack on a civilian flotilla carrying medicine and relief supplies to Gazans, activists were detained and interrogated for several days.

Among the 171 expelled, 27 Greek citizens are returning to Athens on a humanitarian flight coordinated by the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Other crew members and international volunteers have been transferred to Slovakia.

In a message released through her staff, activist Greta Thunberg declared that the mission "aimed solely at delivering civilian aid and drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza", reiterating the call for an "international reaction to violations of humanitarian law".

On Saturday evening at 11:30 PM, the Italian activists released by Israel after being kidnapped in international waters also landed at Fiumicino Airport. Among them was Emanuela Pala, a Sardinian journalist for La7, who was able to embrace her family who had arrived from Cagliari: her parents, her sister Antonella, her brother-in-law, and her five-year-old niece.

(Unioneonline/D)

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