Gaza Flotilla: Activist Details Israeli Interception & Deportation
Sergio Toribio, a Gaza Flotilla activist, details the dramatic interception and deportation by Israeli forces in international waters. The aid mission, aimed at delivering supplies to Gaza, was halted when the vessel, carrying Toribio, Greta Thunberg, and othre activists, was surrounded and boarded. News Directory 3 reports on Toribio’s account of the nighttime encounter, including the use of drones and heavily armed soldiers. He recounts the Israeli authorities’ attempts to have them sign documents and the subsequent deportation process. Toribio,a seasoned marine protection activist,emphasizes his dedication to raising awareness about the conditions in Gaza,calling the situation a humanitarian crisis. He now faces a potential entry ban, but says he hopes to join a pro-Palestinian march. Discover what’s next for the flotilla members and their future activism.
Gaza Freedom Flotilla: Activist Details Israeli Interception, Deportation
Updated June 12, 2025
A Spanish activist who participated in a recent Gaza Freedom Flotilla recounted the events leading to his deportation after Israeli forces intercepted the aid-bearing vessel. Sergio Toribio, speaking from Logroño, spain, described the nighttime encounter in international waters, were the ship, named the mased, was surrounded by Israeli military boats and drones.
According to Toribio, the incident began with two fast boats approaching the Mased without radio dialog.Shortly after, a drone collided with the ship’s mast. This was followed by larger drones dropping a slippery, unidentified substance onto the deck, prompting the crew to take shelter.Heavily armed Israeli soldiers then boarded the vessel, confining the activists before eventually transporting them to Tel Aviv.
Upon arrival in Ashdod, Toribio and other members of the Freedom Flotilla,including climate activist Greta Thunberg,were processed by Israeli police. Toribio said authorities attempted to have them sign documents stating they had tried to enter a military zone, a claim he disputes, given their location in international waters. He, Thunberg, and two others were afterward deported.
Toribio, an experienced marine protection activist, stated his motivation for joining the flotilla stemmed from a desire to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza. Despite the experience, he affirmed his commitment to supporting pro-Gaza movements and fighting against what he described as a genocide.
I did this because I am an activist, and I felt that Palestinian people deserve that we put in the whole world know what is happening in there, that is a genocide. So, for me, it’s like I have the chance to join the flotilla, and I decide to help them in a way I can, no matter how.
He expressed gratitude for the support he received from the Spanish consulate in Tel Aviv and the warm welcome from media and family upon his return to Spain. Some Gaza flotilla crew members now reportedly face a hundred-year entry ban.
What’s next
Toribio hopes to join a march from Cairo to Gaza, though time constraints may prevent his participation. He remains dedicated to future pro-Palestinian activism, aiming to break the siege on Gaza and support its people.