ISTANBUL, Oct 2 (Bernama-Anadolu) -- Israeli authorities on Thursday began to hold deportation hearings for activists detained from an international aid flotilla headed to the blockaded Gaza Strip, Anadolu Ajansi (AA) reported, citing a legal centre.
In a statement, Adalah, the first Palestinian Arab-run legal centre in Israel, said it had received calls from participants reporting that immigration officials had initiated hearings on their detention and deportation orders at the Port of Ashdod, shortly after Israeli naval forces attacked dozens of flotilla ships late Wednesday and early Thursday.
"These proceedings were initiated without prior notice to their lawyers and while denying participants access to legal counsel," Adalah said.
It called the steps "a grave violation of due process and a denial of the participants' fundamental rights," saying that it would continue efforts to secure legal access and pursue legal action if necessary.
Adalah later said that its legal team managed to enter the port to meet the detained activists after they were initially denied access by Israeli authorities.
-- BERNAMA-ANADOLU
