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Forty-five international activists who took part in a Gaza-bound humanitarian flotilla have arrived safely in Jordan after being detained for several days in Israeli prisons, according to reports from the Middle East Monitor (MEMO).
The group, which included human rights defenders, medical volunteers, and journalists from more than a dozen countries, had been part of an aid flotilla attempting to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza in defiance of Israel’s ongoing blockade.
Israeli forces intercepted the vessels in international waters last week, seizing the boats and arresting all on board. Following diplomatic pressure and international outrage, the activists were released and transported across the King Hussein Bridge into Jordan over the weekend.
Eyewitnesses said the activists appeared fatigued but in good health. They were received in Amman by representatives of humanitarian organisations and foreign diplomats who had been advocating for their release.
Among those freed were nationals from Bangladesh, Spain, Norway, the United States, South Africa, and Turkey. Several of them recounted harsh treatment during detention, claiming they were interrogated for hours and denied access to legal representation.
Speaking after her release, Spanish volunteer Maria Fernandez described the experience as “mentally exhausting but necessary to expose the inhumanity of Gaza’s isolation.”
She added, “We were unarmed civilians carrying food and medicine, not threats. Israel’s reaction shows how fearful they are of global solidarity.”
The flotilla was part of a broader international campaign to challenge the legality of the Gaza blockade, which rights groups say constitutes collective punishment of the territory’s 2.2 million residents.
Israel maintains that its naval blockade is essential for preventing the smuggling of weapons into Gaza, which is governed by Hamas, a movement it considers a terrorist organisation.
Jordanian officials confirmed that the activists would remain in the country temporarily before returning to their respective nations.
The Jordanian Foreign Ministry also reiterated its call for the protection of humanitarian workers under international law.
International observers have renewed demands for a humanitarian corridor into Gaza, where shortages of medicine, electricity, and clean water continue to worsen despite global appeals for a ceasefire and aid access.
The release of the flotilla members has reignited debate over the balance between security measures and human rights, with several governments calling for a full investigation into Israel’s actions at sea.
