Six Freedom Flotilla volunteers to be deported later today

After more than 72 hours in Israeli custody, following the interception of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla by Israeli forces on Sunday night, six volunteers are now being transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for deportation, human rights group Adalah said in a statement today.

Israeli immigration authorities reportedly informed lawyers at Adalah, who are representing most of the crew from the ship. 

“The six volunteers expected to be deported today or early tomorrow morning are Mark van Rennes (the Netherlands), Suayb Ordu (Turkey), Yasemin Acar (Germany), Thiago Avila (Brazil), Reva Viard (France), and Rima Hassan (France). Adalah lawyers are reportedly facing difficulties visiting them at the airport,” the statement says. 

Two other volunteers, Pascal Maurieras (France) and Yanis Mhamdi (France), remain in custody at Givon Prison under the authority of the Israel Prison Service, ahead of their deportation tomorrow afternoon.

“While in custody, volunteers were subjected to mistreatment, punitive measures, and aggressive treatment, and two volunteers were held for some period of time in solitary confinement. Adalah protested this inhumane treatment to the Israeli authorities and demanded that it cease,” the statement added.