Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Crete disembarked yesterday in the Greek island, an AFP journalist saw.
Escorted by Greek coastguards, around 175 activists, the majority of them nationals of European countries, were taken by coach to the port of Atherinolakkos, in the southeast of the island before being moved to Heraklion, the main city in Crete.
As they approached the port, the activists chanted "Free Palestine", AFP saw.
The activists were part of a second Global Sumud flotilla, launched in recent months in an attempt to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza by delivering humanitarian assistance.
The ships set sail from the Spanish port of Barcelona on April 12.
Yesterday an Israeli army ship transferred 168 members of the flotilla crew to Greek boats, which then took them to shore where buses and an ambulance waited for them, organisers said and Reuters footage showed.
Israel's foreign ministry called the flotilla organisers "professional provocateurs" and said: "Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza”.
Turkiye's foreign ministry said some 20 Turkish nationals in the flotilla who had been detained and taken to Crete would be repatriated.
It said "certain participants from third countries" would also be sent to Turkiye.
Two activists were detained by Israeli authorities, according to statements from Israel and the organisers of the flotilla, who identified them as Saif Abu Keshek, a Spanish national of Palestinian origin, and Brazilian Thiago Avila.
Spain's foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, accused Israel of illegally arresting Abu Keshek and demanded his immediate release.
Israel's foreign ministry said that Abu Keshek was suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organisation and Avila suspected of illegal activity, adding that both would be taken to Israel for questioning.
In a post on their Telegram channel, organisers of the flotilla alleged that activists had been denied adequate food and water and "forced to sleep on floors that were deliberately and repeatedly flooded" aboard an Israeli naval vessel, describing their treatment as "40 hours of calculated cruelty".
It said that some suffered injuries including broken noses and cracked ribs when they were kicked and dragged across the deck with their hands tied after they tried to protest against the detention of their two fellow activists.
There was no immediate comment from Israel on the allegations of mistreatment.
Germany and Italy's foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying that they were following developments with "deep concern".
A source who asked not to be identified said that while 22 boats had been intercepted by Israel, 47 others were still sailing off southern Crete and planned to anchor there at some point before continuing onwards to Gaza.
Each ship is carrying about a tonne of food, medical and other equipment, the source said.
The 22 vessels were seized by Israel late on Wednesday in international waters off Greece's Peloponnese peninsula, which is hundreds of miles from Gaza, the flotilla's organisers said.
In a statement on Thursday, the US State Department threatened "to impose consequences" against those who support the flotilla, which it cast as pro-Hamas.
Pro-Palestinian activists say that Israel and the US wrongly conflate their advocacy for Palestinian rights as support for Hamas.
Last October Israel's military halted a previous flotilla assembled by the same organisation, arresting Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and more than 450 participants.
Palestinians and international aid bodies say supplies reaching Gaza are still insufficient, despite a ceasefire reached in October that included guarantees of increased aid.
Most of Gaza's more than 2mn people have been displaced, many now living in bombed-out homes and makeshift tents pitched on open ground, roadsides, or atop the ruins of destroyed buildings.
Israel, which controls all access to the Gaza Strip, denies withholding supplies for its residents.
