The individuals included 36 Turkish nationals, as well as citizens from the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan, ministry sources added.
The timing of the protests placed them in the direct shadow of the horrific terror attack in Manchester, where British-Syrian suspect Jihad Al-Shamie killed two Jewish men outside the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation.
Israel and Egypt have maintained restrictions on Gaza to prevent weapons smuggling since Hamas seized control of the Strip in 2007. Since then, Palestinian activists have periodically launched flotillas to challenge the blockade.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the 12 passengers had been given sandwiches and water and were being safely transported to the shores of the Jewish state.
Ben Shapiro criticizes activist Greta Thunberg's performative activism, which includes intentionally getting arrested and boarding the 'Freedom Flotilla' to Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that Israel’s agreement with Turkey to normalize ties after suspending them six years ago will have great implications for the Israeli economy.
Israel must lift the blockade on Gaza before there can be any rapprochement, a Turkish spokesman said, despite recent reports about an imminent reconciliation.
South African Police has announced it intends to arrest four former senior IDF officers for their actions in the 2010 Mavi Marmara provocative flotilla against Israel.
Judges at the International Criminal Court reiterated Friday that the court's prosecutor has to reconsider her decision not to investigate the storming by Israel of an aid flotilla heading to Gaza.
In preparation for its next anti-Israel project, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) met in Barcelona on Sunday to evaluate past actions and to plan for future work, “in light of the extremely deteriorated situation in Palestine, the Israeli oppression and the continued blockade of Gaza.”