Israel deports former Tunisian president to France

Following Israel’s hijacking of the Gaza-bound ship Marianne in international waters on Monday, Arab-Israeli Basel Ghattas MK has been released from custody and former Tunisian President Moncef Al-Marzouki has been deported to France, reported Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Sixteen foreign nationals were on board the vessel, along with two Israelis, Ghattas and a television reporter. The MK could face a parliamentary hearing to see whether he should face sanctions or not. He revealed that MEP Ana Miranda was also deported along with Al-Marzouki.

According to Ghattas, the Israeli navy intercepted the Marianne at 2am local time and the crew turned the engines off, refusing to cooperate with the Israelis. By 7am, the navy was towing the ship towards Ashdod. “The Israelis confiscated all of the activists’ personal belongings, including mobile phones and other equipment,” he said. “They did not allow any telephone calls to be made by anyone on board.”

The Tunisian foreign ministry expressed concern over the detention of the humanitarian activists who were on board the ship, which was part of Freedom Flotilla III aiming to break the blockade of the Gaza Strip. It was, the statement insisted, only carrying humanitarian aid to the besieged territory.

“Tunis condemns this operation [the Israeli hijacking] and calls for the immediate release of all participants,” the statement said. “It blames the Israeli occupation authorities for any harm that might befall them.”