Israel deports five activists after Gaza protest vessel incident

On July 26, 2025, a group of 21 activists from 12 countries attempted to breach the Gaza blockade aboard the Handala vessel. This mission included 19 activists and two Al Jazeera journalists, who were part of a protest organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. Israeli Navy forces intercepted the vessel, leading to the arrest of several activists. Following this, five activists—Jacob Berger from the United States, Mohamed El Bakkali from Morocco, Gabriel Cathala from France, Antonio Mazzeo from Italy, and Waad Al Musa, who holds dual nationality in the United States and Iraq—were deported from Israel on July 28, 2025. The incident sparked discussions regarding the legality of the blockade, as Israel maintains that it is necessary for national security and legal under international law. Israeli authorities described the actions of the activists as unlawful, emphasizing that any attempts to breach the blockade jeopardize both the passengers and humanitarian operations in Gaza. This incident follows previous attempts to send protest flotillas to Gaza, which have drawn international attention. For instance, another protest vessel, the Madleen, featuring climate activist Greta Thunberg, was intercepted by Israeli forces in June 2025. Overall, this ongoing pattern underscores the tensions surrounding the Gaza blockade and the continual protests against it by various international activists and humanitarian organizations.