New Zealanders Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and Sam Leason were on board the Global Sumud Flotilla. Photo: Screenshot
Three New Zealanders detained from an international flotilla will be deported from Israel to Jordan on Wednesday, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters says.
New Zealanders Rana Hamida, Youssef Sammour and Sam Leason were detained after Israeli troops intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters last week.
Peters told Morning Report the trio will be put on a bus to go over the border.
"Then they can came home - some of in New Zealand will see them as heros, the rest will see them as people obstructing a possible chance for peace in the Middle East for the first time."
He said MFAT had been involved in their case at the taxpayers expense in what was a "virtue signalling trip when they knew there was never a chance".
Winston Peters Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Israel deported campaigner Greta Thunberg and another 170 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, sending them to Greece and Slovakia on Monday (local time).
Earlier, Swiss and Spanish activists said they were subjected to inhumane conditions during their detention by Israeli forces, Reuters reported.
Israel's foreign ministry has described widespread reports of detainees being mistreated after the flotilla was intercepted as "complete lies".
An MFAT spokesperson said last week the New Zealand Embassy in Ankara had been proactive in contact with Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on their expectations, such as consular services.
"Given we do not have an embassy presence in Israel, a consular partner in Tel Aviv will provide in-person support should that be needed," they said.
Peters said Israel had made it clear it was not going to allow the vessels near Gaza, and any questions on the legality of the interception in international waters would be decided by a court of law at some other time.
- RNZ / Reuters
