European Parliament member Mélissa Camara is set to be released from a high-security prison in Israel this Sunday. This follows her detention for participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.
According to a note shared on X, Camara will be deported to Jordan after spending four days at the Ktzi’ot prison in southwestern Israel. Once released, she will receive assistance from French consular services.
Details of the Flotilla and Arrest
Camara was one of 479 activists aboard 42 vessels attempting to provide crucial supplies to Gaza, which has been under a naval blockade by the Israeli government for several months. Among the participants was prominent climate activist Greta Thunberg. The activists have claimed to have experienced mistreatment at the hands of Israeli authorities, a statement that Israel has refuted.
“This is a huge relief for her family, for her friends and for her team, four days after the illegal kidnapping the flotilla crew was subject to in near the Gaza coast,”
an aide to Camara stated, emphasizing the emotional toll of the situation. The aide expressed hope for her swift and safe return to France.
Context of Ongoing Conflict
While the flotilla’s interception and disembarkation in the Israeli port of Ashdod was challenging, the aide indicated that there were no immediate signs of mistreatment during Camara’s detention. Greens co-leader Bas Eickhout expressed concern for her safety and health, urging Parliament President Roberta Metsola to provide all necessary support.
This announcement coincides with a significant development in Gaza, as tens of thousands of displaced individuals have begun returning to northern areas of the enclave after a ceasefire, facilitated by U.S. President Donald Trump, took effect on Friday.
Under the first phase of this agreement, Hamas is anticipated to release the remaining 48 Israeli hostages captured during the conflict in late 2023. In exchange, Israel is expected to liberate approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners and reopen humanitarian aid routes to Gaza.
Since the escalation of conflict, Israeli assaults have reportedly claimed over 67,000 lives, according to the Hamas-linked health ministry, with a significant portion being children. The violence began following a surprise attack on October 7, 2023, in which Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages.
In the wake of these developments, leaders such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Spanish Premier Pedro Sánchez, and French President Emmanuel Macron are scheduled to attend an international summit on Gaza in Egypt on Monday.