Women's Gaza flotilla activists deported from Israel

Twelve of the thirteen women who attempted to breach Israel's naval blockade on Gaza have been deported Friday, Israel's interior Ministry said, with the final activist to leave the country later in the day.

Thirteen women, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Mairead Maguire of Northern Ireland, were detained on Wednesday after their sailboat was stopped around 35 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza.

Maguire spoke with i24news from the boat Wednesday, shortly before they were intercepted by the Israeli Navy.

"Our goal is to raise awareness of plight of the Palestinian people and to break the ridiculous blockade on the Gaza strip," she told i24news, explaining that the message they wish to deliver is one of peace and hope rather than one of conflict.

"We are not afraid of the IDF. We understand that they are doing their job and we are a group of unarmed women bringing a message of peace," she said.

"We expect that they will treat with us dignity and we will treat them with dignity as well."

Media reports said activists were detained without resisting.
 i24news.tv
7/10/16
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