ISTANBUL / DHAKA, Bangladesh

Bangladeshi, Malaysian, and South Korean activists who were part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition sailing to Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid have been released from Israeli detention and are returning home via Türkiye.

Renowned Bangladeshi photographer and rights activist Shahidul Alam returned home Saturday after being freed with the help of Türkiye. He was among dozens of humanitarians detained when Israeli forces attacked aid ships bound for Gaza.

Speaking to reporters in the capital Dhaka, Alam said: “We must remember that the people of Gaza are not yet free. The people of Gaza are still being attacked; they are still being tortured. Until that happens, our work is not over.”

He thanked the governments of Bangladesh and Türkiye, adding: “Many people have contacted me wanting to go (on future Gaza flotillas). Thousands more flotillas like ours need to go, until Palestine is free. Our real struggle is still ahead.”

Alam also alleged that Israeli forces threw away his passport in anger after seeing it was Bangladeshi. Bangladesh, a South Asian nation of about 170 million people, does not recognize Israel.

Separately, Korean activist Kim Ah-hyun, who was aboard one of the aid vessels, agreed to voluntary deportation and will return home via Istanbul, said South Korea on Friday.

Additionally, Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan said on US social media company Facebook that nine Malaysian activists would also return Sunday from Istanbul.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which aimed to break the siege of Gaza, was ambushed by Israeli naval forces Wednesday about 120 nautical miles (222 kilometers) from the enclave. More than 150 activists from several countries were detained and later deported.

The Israeli navy attacked ships of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition’s Thousand Madleens convoy in international waters as part of its ongoing blockade on Gaza. The convoy set sail after Israeli naval forces the previous week attacked and seized more than 40 boats that were part of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla and detained over 450 activists. Most have since been deported.

Israel, as the occupying power, has previously attacked Gaza-bound aid ships, seized their cargo, and deported activists on board.

Since October 2023, Israeli attacks have killed over 67,0200 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and left the enclave in ruins.