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Four individuals from Italy have been removed from Israel after being taken into custody when ships sailing in a flotilla delivering aid headed toward Gaza were boarded, according to the nation's diplomatic authorities.

More than 470 participants were detained, per information from law enforcement authorities. The foreign office stated that authorities were in the process of removing the others.

Interception Operation

The expulsions come as the remaining vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla was stopped by Israeli authorities on the morning of Friday.

The GSF described the Israeli operations as illegal, while Israel characterized the flotilla's activities as a "provocation".

The interception of the aid convoy triggered rallies globally, including a general strike in the European nation.

Open Seas Confrontation

The first vessels were intercepted on Wednesday about around 80 miles away from the Palestinian shoreline in global maritime territory and additional vessels in proximity. The nation has been policing this zone but does not have sovereign rights there.

Israel stated its naval forces had instructed the boats to alter direction as they were "heading toward an conflict region and breaching a legal maritime closure", while the GSF maintained the interceptions were "against international norms".

Authority Announcements

"Already four Italian citizens have been deported. The rest are undergoing deportation procedures. Israel is determined to conclude this operation as promptly as possible."

The declaration noted that all detainees were safe and in proper condition. The flotilla organization has claimed that numerous participants were targeted with water spraying equipment while their vessels were intercepted.

Prominent Figures

The foreign ministry's statement mentioned the involvement of Swedish activist the well-known campaigner on a participating vessel, but offered no additional information on her whereabouts.

"Over 38 hours, Israeli occupation naval forces improperly stopped the complete set of 42 of our ships—each transporting humanitarian aid, activists, and the determination to overcome the nation's restrictive measures on Gaza."

Concluding Operation

The group reported the last of its vessels, the participating ship, was illegally intercepted at the morning hours on Friday, roughly 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza in global maritime space.

"Real-time broadcasts and communications have been disconnected, and the condition of participants and ship personnel remains uncertain," the GSF said.

"This constitutes an improper operation on unarmed humanitarians. We appeal to national authorities and world bodies to require their immediate safety and freedom."

Last Communications

In a live broadcast from the Marinette, an individual aboard was seen displaying a written sign to the lens reading "We see a ship!" moments before mid-morning.

Roughly 30 minutes subsequently, a naval craft carrying security forces equipped with military attire pulled alongside the ship, with a considerably larger government boat discernible in the background.

Location Data

The most recent information on the final vessel, using the convoy's tracking website, put it around 50 miles from the Palestinian shoreline at 10:07 - shortly before it was intercepted.

The largest portion of the vessels sailing as part of the aid convoy are unobservable on vessel location platforms reviewed by different services.

Several of the boats stopped on the previous day are currently anchored at the Israeli Ashdod Naval Base, according to tracking website data.

International Response

The aid mission departed for the Palestinian territory from the European nation at the end of last month, with other boats joining from the North African country and additional locations afterward, the organization stated.

Demonstrations in support of the aid convoy and resisting the war in Gaza intensified internationally as the vessels neared the territory, in states comprising the European nation, Italy, Colombia and the Latin American country.