Israel deports 2 activists detained for leading an aid flotilla to Gaza

Key Points:

• Israel deported two activists, Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, after detaining them for over a week for leading an aid flotilla attempting to break the Israeli naval blockade of Gaza; both were intercepted off the coast of Crete and are members of the Global Sumud Flotilla.
• The Israeli Foreign Ministry labeled the activists as "professional provocateurs" and emphasized that Israel will not allow breaches of the naval blockade, while Spain and Brazil condemned the detention as a kidnapping in international waters.
• The flotilla, consisting of 22 boats and 175 activists, was intercepted by the Israeli navy hundreds of miles from Gaza; activists reported Israeli forces stormed vessels and damaged engines to prevent the flotilla from reaching Gaza.
• In Gaza, an Israeli strike killed at least two people, including a Hamas police officer, amid ongoing tensions despite a fragile ceasefire; Israeli forces have continued airstrikes and military actions resulting in significant Palestinian casualties since the ceasefire.
• Israel's military reported destroying tunnels and finding weapons caches in central Gaza, asserting these actions respond to militant attacks and ceasefire violations, while the Gaza health ministry documents casualties without distinguishing civilians from militants.