Israel has transferred 21 of the 27 activists on board the two Gaza-bound international aid flotillas to a detention facility.

Israel has transferred 21 of the 27 activists on board the two Gaza-bound international aid flotillas to a detention facility.

An Israeli official said on Saturday that six of the activists had been deported.

Zionist naval vessels on Friday intercepted and boarded the boats that aimed “to challenge Israel's ongoing criminal blockade of the [Gaza Strip] territory.”

“What Israel did towards the two boats will not end the solidarity boats, the actions against siege on Gaza will continue,” media sources quoted Amjad Shawa, an activist, as saying on Saturday.

The mini aid flotilla, called Freedom Waves to Gaza, left the Turkish port city of Fethiye on Wednesday and was scheduled to reach the Gaza Strip on Friday.

The Canadian ship, Tahrir (Freedom), and the Irish ship, Saoirse (Freedom) are carrying 27 activists, including journalists and crewmembers, along with 30,000 dollars worth of medicine.

Israel has intercepted Gaza-bound aid flotillas before. On May 31, 2010, Israeli commandos attacked the Gaza Freedom Flotilla in international waters, killing nine Turkish activists and injuring dozens of others.

Gaza has been blockaded since 2006, a situation which has caused a decline in the standard of living and brought about unprecedented levels of unemployment and poverty.