Jerusalem: Four French nationals who were aboard a Gaza aid ship and are currently detained in Israel are set to be deported to France on Thursday and Friday. This information was shared by France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, on Wednesday through an announcement on X.

According to Anadolu Agency, Barrot stated, "The 4 French nationals still being held in Israel will be deported to France tomorrow and the day after." Among the six French nationals present on the Gaza-bound aid ship, two had already agreed to return to France on Tuesday. The remaining four, including French-Palestinian European Parliament member Rima Hassan, Pascal Maurieras, Yanis Mhamdi, and Reva Viard, initially rejected their expulsion.

Other activists currently in Israeli custody include Brazilian activist Thiago Avila, Suayb Ordu from Trkiye, Mark van Rennes from the Netherlands, and Yasemin Acar from Germany. The British-flagged vessel, Madleen, embarked on its journey on June 6 from Sicily, Italy, aiming to break the Israeli naval blockade on Gaza. The region has witnessed significant casualties, with nearly 55,000 people reportedly killed since October 2023.

The Madleen was seized by Israeli forces in international waters earlier this week, leading to the detention of its 12-member crew. The activists aboard included individuals from various countries, such as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, Rima Hassan, and several others from different nations. While four activists, including Thunberg, were deported on Tuesday, eight others continue to be held in detention.