The 14 German nationals who were in Israeli custody after taking part in the Gaza aid flotilla have been deported, the German Foreign Office said on Tuesday.

A spokeswoman for the ministry said they were taken to Greece and received by staff from the German embassy.

The Israeli Navy intercepted 42 boats carrying aid supplies for the Gaza Strip in the Mediterranean last week.

Over 400 crew members from dozens of countries were taken into custody in a case that made global headlines.

They included Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau.

Many participants have since been deported, with 160 landing in Athens on Monday, according to the Greek Foreign Ministry.

Organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla said participants had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse while in Israeli custody.

Lubna Tuma, a lawyer acting for the Global Sumud Flotilla, told a news conference broadcast on Instagram that participants were held with their hands tied behind their backs under the scorching sun.

Some had been forced to kneel while being insulted and humiliated, with women particularly targeted.

One woman was reportedly kicked in the head.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry rejected the allegations as lies and said that all the rights of the pro-Palestinian activists had been “fully respected”.

(dpa/NAN)