Forty-four Spanish activists detained in Israel who were on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla are expected to be released to Spain via Turkey in a flight leaving at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said.
On Wednesday, Albares condemned Israel's behavior towards the flotilla activists, calling out National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's treatment of them as "monstrous, undignified, and humiliating."
The flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli Navy on Tuesday night, with 428 participants from more than 40 countries detained.
Around 90 of the detained activists began a hunger strike, according to the Global Sumud Flotilla.
Ben-Gvir raises controversy with flotilla activist video
On Wednesday, Ben-Gvir shared videos of himself harassing the detained flotilla activists in Ashdod, drawing immediate condemnation both internationally and from Israeli officials, and causing several countries, including Spain, to summon their Israeli chargé d'affaires.
In response to Ben-Gvir's videos, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that while Israel has the right to respond to the flotilla, Ben-Gvir's actions were unacceptable.
Sarah Ben-Nun, Michael Starr, and Corinne Baum contributed to this report.