*Adalah Update | 27 July 2025, 20 PM Jerusalem time*

Adalah’s lawyers have met with 17 of the 21 detained activists, either at Ashdod Port or in an Israeli police station. According to the lawyers, all are in relatively stable condition.

Israel is handling the custody of the volunteers as though they had entered the country illegally—even though they were forcibly taken from international waters and brought into Israel against their will. The authorities presented them with two options: either agree to so-called “voluntary deportation,” or remain in detention and appear before a tribunal, to have their continued detention pending deportation reviewed.

For a full explanation of the legal process and Adalah’s legal position, see our detailed Q&A: https://www.adalah.org/uploads/uploads/Q_&_A_Freedom_Flotilla_July_2025.pdf 

The following activists have agreed to deportation and are expected to be deported from Israel in the coming hours: Antonio Mazzeo (Italy), Gabrielle Cathala (France), Jacob Berger (United States). 

The following activists refused to sign voluntary deportation orders; they remain in Israeli custody and will be brought before an Israeli tribunal to review the legality of their continued detention pending deportation: Braedon Peluso (United States), Robert Martin (Australia), Tania (Tan) Safi (“Australia”), Justine Kempf (France), Emma Fourreau (France – Sweden), Antonio La Picirella (Italy), Christian Smalls (United States), Chloé Fiona Ludden (United Kingdom – France), Sergio Toribio Sanchez (Spain), Vigdis Bjorvand (Norway), Hatem Aouini (Tunisia) and Santiago González Vallejo (Spain).

Huwaida Arraf and Bob Suberi, both dual U.S.–Israeli nationals, were interrogated by Israeli police, released from custody, and are now with Adalah’s legal team.

Adalah did not meet with Ange Sahuquet (France), Dr. Frank Romano (United States–France), or Al Jazeera reporter and cameraman Mohamed El Bakkali (Morocco) and Waad Al Musa (United States–Iraq), who are represented by private attorneys.

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