Dozens of activists on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla which was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off Crete disembarked on Friday in the Greek island, an AFP journalist saw.
Escorted by Greek coast guards, some 175 activists were taken in four buses to a town whose name was not disclosed by the authorities.
Israel's foreign ministry earlier said around 175 activists had been taken off more than 20 boats on Thursday. Flotilla organizers put the number at 211.
"In coordination with the Greek government, the individuals transferred from the flotilla vessels to the Israeli vessel will be disembarked on a Greek beach in the coming hours," Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar wrote on X late Thursday, thanking Greece "for its willingness to receive the flotilla participants".
Several European governments with nationals among those arrested have called on Israel to free the activists and called its action a flagrant contravention of international law.
But the United States backed Israeli authorities, calling the flotilla a "stunt".
"The United States expects all our allies...to take decisive action against this meaningless political stunt by denying port access, docking, departure and refueling to vessels participating in the flotilla," State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said.
Initially made up of more than 50 boats, the flotilla's aim, according to the organisers, was to break the blockade of Gaza and bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian territory, whose access remains largely restricted despite a fragile ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist movement Hamas, in force since October.
The foreign ministers of 12 countries, including Türkiye, have condemned Israel’s attack on the Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla, calling it a “flagrant violation of international law.”
In a joint statement released on April 30, the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Brazil, Jordan, Pakistan, Spain, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Colombia, the Maldives, Mauritania, South Africa and Libya said the flotilla was a peaceful civilian humanitarian initiative aimed at drawing attention to the crisis in Gaza.
“The Israeli attacks against the vessels and the unlawful detention of humanitarian activists in international waters constitute flagrant violations of international law and international humanitarian law,” the statement said.
The ministers expressed concern over the safety of the civilian activists on board and urged Israeli authorities to take immediate steps for their release.
They also called on the international community to fulfill its “moral and legal obligations” by upholding international law, protecting civilians and ensuring accountability.
