Greece's foreign ministry said 161 nationals from 16 European countries landed in Athens on Monday after being expelled by Israel for taking part in a Gaza aid flotilla.
Israel on Monday deported more activists who were on the flotilla bound for the devastated Palestinian territory, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
The 45-vessel flotilla had been aiming to break an Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations says famine has taken hold after two years of devastating conflict.
"A special repatriation flight landed safely in Athens carrying the 27 Greek citizens who took part in the 'Global Sumud Flotilla'," the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement.
"This flight also facilitated the return of 134 nationals from 15 European countries," it added, without elaborating.
According to the Swedish branch of the Global Movement for Gaza, the deported Swedish nationals were on board the flight.
At Athens International Airport, activists unfurled a huge Palestinian flag in the arrivals hall and chanted "Freedom for Palestine" and "Long live the flotilla!", AFP reporters saw.
The Global Sumud flotilla departed from Barcelona in Spain in early September.
The vessels were boarded by the Israeli navy off Egypt and the Gaza Strip between October 1 and 3.
The ships were forcibly diverted to the Israeli port of Ashdod. According to Israeli police, more than 470 people aboard the flotilla boats were arrested.
The first deportations began on October 2 and currently 138 flotilla participants remain in detention in Israel, the foreign ministry told AFP.
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg raises her fist, upon arrival alongside activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, greeted by a crowd of supporters, at the arrivals area of Athens International Airport on Monday. AFP
French-Palestinian lawyer and member of European Parliament for La France Insoumise (LFI) party Rima Hassan flashes the peace sign, upon arrival alongside activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, greeted by a crowd of supporters, at the arrivals area of Athens International Airport on Monday. AFP
Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg (C) delivers remarks upon arrival alongside activists who were sailing aboard vessels from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, greeted by a crowd of supporters, at the arrivals area of Athens International Airport on Monday. AFP
Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau (C) and Jordi Coronas of Catalan separatist party Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya - ERC, who were sailing aboard vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla, talk to media as they arrive at Barcelona Airport on Sunday, after Israel stopped the Gaza-bound aid flotilla and detained hundreds of people. AFP
Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, who was sailing aboard a vessel from the Global Sumud Flotilla, is hugged as she arrives at Barcelona's airport on Sunday. AFP
A crowd hold banners in support of the Global Sumud Flotilla at the arrivals area of Athens International Airport on on Sunday. AFP
Activists Peter Svestka (L) from Slovakia and Sander Theodorus de Koning (R) from the Netherlands, participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla, give an interview upon arrival at the airport in Bratislava, Slovakia on Monday. AFP
Four Dutch activists, who were among the hundreds stopped and detained by Israeli forces sailing aboard vessels from the Gaza-bound aid flotilla, are greeted by supporters upon their return to Schiphol Airport on Monday. AFP
Participants of the Global Sumud Flotilla react upon arrival at the airport in Bratislava, Slovakia on Monday. AFP
