Brussels – Eight members of the crew from the Freedom Flotilla, including French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan, have refused to sign deportation papers from Israel and are currently in detention.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has stated that these individuals will be brought before a judicial authority in accordance with Israeli law to process their deportation.

Activist Greta Thunberg, however, has departed for Sweden.

This morning, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that out of the six French citizens who boarded the vessel Madleen, only one has agreed to a voluntary departure and is expected to return today.

The remaining five individuals are facing forced expulsion.

Consuls from their respective countries have met with them at Ben Gurion Airport.

The Palestinian legal aid organization Adalah has asserted that the interception of the Madleen and the subsequent detention of unarmed activists carrying humanitarian aid breaches international law.

Adalah has indicated intentions to pursue legal actions to ensure the safety and release of the detained activists.

In contrast, Israeli authorities maintain that the maritime zone off the Gaza coast is closed to unauthorized vessels and operates under a legal naval blockade, consistent with international law.