MFA: Slovak National from Pro-Palestinian Flotilla Deported to Turkey

Bratislava/Tel Aviv/Istanbul, 21 May (TASR) - A Slovak national who, along with other activists as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla initiative, was sailing to the Gaza Strip and was detained by the Israeli navy has been deported to Turkey, the Foreign and European Affairs Ministry told TASR on Thursday. "Based on information from the Israeli side, the Foreign Ministry can confirm that the detained individuals from the Global Sumud flotilla, including the Slovak national, have been deported from Israel to Turkey," stated the ministry. Slovakia's Consulate General in Istanbul is actively monitoring the situation; its staff will be at the airport at the time of the deportation and ready to provide the Slovak citizen with the necessary consular assistance and support. The Global Sumud Flotilla initiative reported on its website on Monday (18 May) that the Israeli navy had intercepted 16 of its vessels heading for the Gaza Strip, and, according to the website, Slovak national Dasa Raimanova was among the detained activists. The vessels were carrying more than 420 people from almost 40 countries with the aim of "creating a humanitarian corridor and breaking the illegal Israeli blockade of Gaza". am