Greece’s foreign ministry says 161 nationals from 16 European countries landed in Athens on Monday after being expelled by Israel for taking part in a Gaza aid flotilla.
Israel deported more activists who were on the flotilla bound for the devastated Palestinian territory, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.
Thunberg was on the Greece-bound plane, while another ten flotilla activists were deported to Slovakia.
“A special repatriation flight landed safely in Athens carrying the 27 Greek citizens who took part in the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla,'” the Greek foreign ministry says in a statement.
“This flight also facilitated the return of 134 nationals from 15 European countries,” it adds, without elaborating.
According to the Swedish branch of the Global Movement for Gaza, the deported Swedish nationals were on board the flight.
At Athens International Airport, activists unfurled a huge Palestinian flag in the arrivals hall and chanted “Freedom for Palestine” and “Long live the flotilla!” AFP reporters saw.
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