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Four individuals from Italy have been removed from the country after being taken into custody when ships sailing in a humanitarian convoy transporting aid headed toward Gaza were stopped, according to Israeli foreign ministry.

Over 470 individuals were apprehended, per information from law enforcement authorities. The ministry stated that authorities were actively deporting the others.

Naval Boarding

The deportations come as the remaining ship of the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted by naval forces on Friday morning.

The GSF labeled the Israeli interceptions as unlawful, while Israeli officials described the convoy's mission as a "provocation".

The blocking of the aid convoy triggered demonstrations around the world, including a general strike in Italy.

International Waters Incident

The primary vessels were stopped on midweek about 70 nautical miles from the Gaza shoreline in international waters and additional vessels closer. The nation has been patrolling this area but lacks legal authority there.

Israeli officials said its naval forces had ordered the vessels to redirect as they were "heading toward an active combat zone and breaching a official sea restriction", while the GSF asserted the operations were "illegal".

Official Statements

"Already four Italian citizens have been deported. The others are being prepared for expulsion. Israel is keen to conclude this operation as rapidly as possible."

The declaration noted that everyone in custody were secure and in proper condition. The flotilla organization has stated that several volunteers were targeted with water cannon while their ships were intercepted.

High-Profile Involvement

The foreign ministry's statement mentioned the involvement of environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg on one of the boats, but did not give specifics on her condition.

"Throughout 38 hours, government naval units improperly stopped the complete set of 42 of our ships—each transporting humanitarian aid, participants, and the resolve to break Israel's illegal siege on the Palestinian territory."

Concluding Operation

The coalition said the final of its ships, the named vessel, was improperly stopped at mid-morning on Friday, about 42.5 nautical miles from Gaza in open seas.

"Video feeds and communications have been terminated, and the condition of participants and maritime staff remains uncertain," the GSF said.

"This represents an illegal attack on civilian aid workers. We urge governments and international institutions to require their prompt security and liberation."

Concluding Scenes

In a livestream from the final vessel, an individual aboard was visible showing a piece of paper to the lens saying "We see a ship!" just before mid-morning.

Approximately half an hour later, a dinghy carrying security forces wearing combat equipment came next to the ship, with a much larger military vessel visible in the distance.

Tracking Information

The most recent information on the last ship, using the flotilla's tracking website, put it 43 nautical miles from the Gaza shoreline at 10:07 - shortly before it was boarded.

The largest portion of the ships participating in the aid convoy are undetectable on vessel location platforms reviewed by various sources.

Several of the boats stopped on the previous day are currently moored at the military port, according to monitoring service data.

International Response

The humanitarian convoy departed for Gaza from Spain at the end of last month, with more ships joining from Tunisia and additional locations later, the coalition stated.

Protests in backing for the humanitarian mission and resisting the war in Gaza ramped up internationally as the vessels came closer to the Strip, in countries including Spain, the Mediterranean country, Colombia and the Latin American country.