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Israel to Deport Nigerian Over ‘PR Stunt’ Gaza Aid Flotilla – Envoy Michael Freeman

Helen Okoro 1 hour ago 3 min read

By : Chinasaokwu Helen Okoro

Israel’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, has confirmed that a Nigerian national involved in the recently intercepted Gaza-bound flotilla will soon be deported, describing the voyage as a “public relations stunt” disguised as a humanitarian effort.

Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Ambassador Freeman accused the organisers of the flotilla of exploiting the humanitarian situation in Gaza to advance anti-Israel propaganda rather than providing meaningful relief to Palestinians.

“Regarding the Nigerian, the Nigerian will be deported soon,” Freeman stated. “He was part of this flotilla that was a publicity stunt that was not in any way a useful flotilla. These people were pretending they were bringing aid when the Pope himself intervened and said, please pass the aid to Israel and Israel will guarantee it goes into Gaza. They refused.”

Freeman’s remarks followed Israel’s interception of a flotilla of international activists who claimed they were attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. Israeli forces reportedly boarded the vessels before they could reach their destination, citing security concerns and violations of the maritime blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip.

The ambassador insisted that Israel remains committed to facilitating genuine humanitarian assistance to Gaza through authorised and transparent channels, noting that the flotilla’s refusal to comply with these procedures exposed its real motive.

“They’re not interested in transferring any aid,” Freeman added. “When the flotilla was intercepted and we went on the boats, there was virtually no aid on board whatsoever. This was all about a PR stunt. This was all about selfies. This was all about trying to demonise Israel and nothing to do with helping the Palestinians.”

He further explained that hundreds of aid trucks are entering Gaza daily through coordinated international partnerships, ensuring that relief materials reach civilians in need rather than being exploited for political theatre.

“Today, hundreds of trucks of aid are making their way into Gaza in order to reach the Palestinian people and not some PR stunt by a group of people who’ve got nothing better to do,” he said.

The incident has drawn global attention and reignited debates over the role of activist-led flotillas attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Over the years, similar attempts have been made by international groups claiming to deliver food and medical supplies to the territory, which is governed by Hamas. Israel maintains that such missions often serve as political provocations that endanger both participants and regional stability.

While organisers of the flotilla insist that their actions were purely humanitarian, Israeli officials argue that all legitimate aid to Gaza passes through regulated crossings in coordination with the United Nations and other aid agencies. According to the Israeli government, this oversight ensures that assistance reaches civilians while preventing supplies from being diverted to militant groups.

Ambassador Freeman’s comments highlight Israel’s growing frustration with international campaigns aimed at challenging its blockade policy, which it says is necessary to prevent arms smuggling into Gaza. “We are not against aid reaching the people of Gaza,” Freeman stressed. “We are against deceitful acts that endanger lives and spread misinformation.”

The Nigerian national’s deportation, once completed, will mark another instance of Israel’s strict stance against foreign involvement in unauthorised activities linked to Gaza. Neither the individual’s identity nor specific charges have been publicly disclosed, but officials indicated that the deportation process was underway.

The envoy reiterated that Israel continues to collaborate with humanitarian organisations and international partners to ensure that relief materials reach Gaza safely and efficiently. He concluded by urging individuals and groups genuinely interested in helping Palestinians to do so through recognised aid mechanisms rather than publicity-driven spectacles.

The flotilla controversy underscores the ongoing tension between Israel and activist networks seeking to challenge its blockade, even as humanitarian needs in Gaza remain dire.