Ramallah – Saba:
Adalah Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in "Israel" reported that 12 international activists detained aboard the "Handala" vessel—part of the Freedom Flotilla aiming to break the siege on Gaza—are on a hunger strike and refusing to sign voluntary deportation agreements.
The activists were arrested by the "Israeli" navy on Saturday evening and are expected to be brought before a court.
According to Adalah, the activists began their hunger strike immediately upon detention in protest of their arbitrary arrest.
The center added that three other activists—a French national, an Italian, and an American—are set to be deported, while details remain unavailable regarding the rest of the detained group.
Adalah had earlier sent an urgent appeal to "Israeli" authorities demanding immediate disclosure of the whereabouts of 21 international activists of ten different nationalities who were forcibly detained following the interception of the "Handala" vessel—one of the Freedom Flotilla ships—while in international waters.
The move has been widely condemned as a blatant violation of international law.
The vessel had departed from Italy about a week earlier on a humanitarian mission intended to challenge Israel’s 17-year blockade on Gaza by opening a civilian maritime corridor to deliver critical aid, including medical equipment, infant formula, and water purification devices.
Footage from cameras installed on board captured the moment Israeli forces stormed the ship and detained those on board before the live transmission was abruptly cut.
The mission comes amid an escalating humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and growing international accusations that "Israel" is committing ongoing acts of genocide for over 22 consecutive months.
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