A group of activists, including Greta Thunberg, will be returned to their home countries after the Gaza-bound boat they were travelling on was seized, Israeli authorities said on Monday.
It says the aid on board will be transferred to the Strip and distributed through established channels.
Early on Monday morning, Israeli forces intercepted and seized the Madleen, which was heading to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid in what the activists said was a protest against Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Strip.
Israel's Foreign Ministry dismissed the voyage as a public relations stunt, saying in a post on X that "the 'selfie yacht' of the 'celebrities' is safely making its way to the shores of Israel."
It circulated footage of what appeared to be Israeli military personnel handing out sandwiches and water to the activists, who were wearing orange life vests.
Israel's foreign ministry said on Monday evening that the ship had arrived at the port of Ashdod and everyone on board had disembarked.
The activists are expected to be transferred to a detention facility ahead of deportation from Israel.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which had organised the voyage, said the activists were "kidnapped by Israeli forces".
"The ship was unlawfully boarded, its unarmed civilian crew abducted, and its life-saving cargo — including baby formula, food and medical supplies — confiscated," it said in a statement.
It said the ship was seized in international waters some 200 kilometres from Gaza.
A weeklong voyage
Thunberg, a climate campaigner, was among 12 activists aboard the Madleen, which set sail from Sicily a week ago.
Along the way, it had reportedly stopped in the Mediterranean Sea on Thursday to rescue four migrants who had jumped overboard to avoid being detained by the Libyan coast guard.
"I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a pre-recorded message released after the ship was seized.
Rima Hassan, a Syrian-born French MEP of Palestinian background, was also among the volunteers on board.
Hassan has been barred from entering Israel in the past. She was among six French citizens aboard the boat.
The European Parliament (EP) has said it is in contact with Israeli authorities regarding Hassan.
"The safety and well-being of MEPs, wherever they are in the world, is our highest priority," an EP spokesperson told Euronews.
“We are in constant contact with the Israeli authorities to ensure the safety and security of MEP Rima Hassan."
The spokesperson said that in view of the seriousness of the situation, the EP's President Roberta Metsola is in constant contact with both Israel and the leaders of parliament’s political groups.
French President Emmanuel Macron also asked Israel to allow them to return to France as soon as possible, his office said in a statement.
Adalah, a rights group in Israel that said it was representing the activists, said Israel had "no legal authority" to take over the ship because it was in international waters.
"The arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law," Adalah said in a statement.
After an almost three-month blockade aimed at pressuring Hamas, Israel started allowing some basic aid into Gaza last month. Humanitarian workers and experts say it is not enough and have warned of famine unless the blockade is lifted and Israel ends its military offensive.
An attempt last month by Freedom Flotilla to reach Gaza by sea failed after another of the group's vessels was attacked by two drones while sailing in international waters off Malta, organisers said.
The group blamed Israel for the attack, which damaged the front section of the ship.
