Israeli immigration police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian activists Sunday at Ben Gurion Airport, who took part in a fly-in aimed at drawing attention to Israel's occupation of the West Bank.
By late afternoon, 43 foreign nationals were banned entry, 31 of whom were bused to a nearby detention facility, a police statement said, where they would be held until their deportation to their home countries as soon as possible.
The remaining activists had already been put on return flights. The Giv'on jail, south-east of Tel Aviv, normally houses illegal immigrants as well as criminals sentenced to up to five years jail.
Several hundred activists protested at European airports, including in Paris, Brussels and Geneva, after they were prevented from boarding planes bound for Tel Aviv.
Many waved Palestinian flags in departure halls, whistled and chanted slogans against their governments and airlines, accusing them of "collaborating" with Israel, which they charged "isolates the West Bank" by controlling all entry and exit points.
Israel had handed airlines a "blacklist" of known activists who would not be allowed entry. Israel Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld said those refused entry at Ben Gurion airport included a Portuguese national who arrived on a Jordanian Airlines flight from Amman, a Canadian who was put on a return flight to the United States and others who arrived from Paris and Geneva.
He said all would be deported after questioning.
Nine Israeli left-wing activists were also detained at Ben Gurion airport. Two of them were led away flashing V-victory signs as police, who do not issue licenses for demonstrations at the airport, confiscated signs reading "Welcome to Palestine."
The international activists want to reach the occupied West Bank, but Israel has said it will not allow entry to "provocateurs" via its territory.