More than a dozen international activists detained by Israel after their aid boat to Gaza was intercepted have begun a hunger strike to protest their continued detention. The activists, part of the Freedom Flotilla mission, were stopped by Israeli forces while attempting to break the blockade of Gaza. According to a legal aid group, some activists reported experiencing physical violence and poor conditions during their detention. While a few have agreed to expedited deportation, fourteen remain in custody after a tribunal upheld their detention, which the NGO argues is unlawful as they were brought from international waters against their will. The group of 21 passengers included lawmakers, journalists, and campaigners from ten countries, with some already deported and others still held in Israel.