470 anti-Israel flotilla activists processed ahead of deportation after ‘negligible quantities of aid’ found on boats

Some 470 activists detained by the Israeli Navy on the Gaza-bound “Sumud Flotilla” have been brought to shore and are being processed ahead of their deportation, the Israel Police said on Thursday.

Over 600 police officers, along with prison officials and immigration representatives, received the activists at the port of Ashdod, where their 41 boats will also be moored.

According to police, the activists underwent a “thorough inspection process” before being handed over to the Population and Immigration Authority and the Israel Prison Service for further processing.

On Wednesday evening, special forces of the Israeli Navy’s Shayetet 13 boarded 41 boats of the “Global Sumud Flotilla” as it approached Israeli-controlled waters off the Gaza coast.

Channel 12 reported that authorities decided to deport the activists as quickly as possible and to cover their flight expenses. The state is reportedly considering chartering an aircraft to deport all European citizens back to the continent in one go.

.@IsraelPolice is looking for the humanitarian aid from the Hamas-Sumud provocation so it can be transferred peacefully to Gaza.

The only problem: so far they haven’t found much.

Like we said, it was never about the aid. It was always about the provocation. pic.twitter.com/AbL52UGQCv

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 2, 2025

According to Army Radio, the soldiers only found “negligible quantities” of humanitarian aid on the flotilla, despite its stated aim having been to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip to end its alleged “starvation” by Israel.

“This proves the entire event is purely a provocation – and should be treated as such,” a senior security official said.

Israel, the Vatican, Italy, and other countries had offered to receive the flotilla’s humanitarian aid and transfer it to the Gaza Strip, but the offer was refused.

The report added that, contrary to the infamous Mavi Marmara Flotilla in 2010, no weapons of any kind were uncovered.

Hamas-Sumud passengers on their yachts are making their way safely and peacefully to Israel, where their deportation procedures to Europe will begin. The passengers are safe and in good health. pic.twitter.com/pzzitP5jN8

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 2, 2025

Channel 12 also cited an informed source who said that “As a lesson from the previous time, the flotilla participants were instructed not to smile, in order to prevent Israel from photographing them smiling – which could undermine the narrative that Israel is 'abducting' them.”

“In response, employees from the Population and Immigration Authority’s Enforcement and Foreigners Administration played along with the challenge and tried to make them laugh, while the flotilla participants made efforts not to break and start laughing.”

Already several vessels of the Hamas-Sumud flotilla have been safely stopped and their passengers are being transferred to an Israeli port.
Greta and her friends are safe and healthy. pic.twitter.com/PA1ezier9s

— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 1, 2025

Their efforts apparently failed, as footage released by the Israeli Foreign Ministry showed several activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, smiling.

The large naval operation, which required the IDF to call up reserve soldiers from the Shayetet 13 commando unit, began on Wednesday evening as the country marked the start of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism, and continued overnight into Thursday.

It was an operation of an unprecedented scale, as the Israeli Navy had never before dealt with such a large flotilla. Navy forces first boarded and took control of the six main ships before “hunting down” the smaller boats.

In one incident, a yacht began to tilt and sink due to a major technical malfunction while Israeli commandos and activists were still on board. The passengers were evacuated, but the vessel could not be saved and ultimately sank.

The operation was led by Vice Admiral David Saar Salama, the commander of the Israeli Navy.

Before the operation, soldiers were given special instructions to avoid incidents that could be used against Israel, as activists attempted to livestream their interception and capture.