Israel is set to expel four French nationals by the end of the week after security forces intercepted their Gaza-bound aid boat, according to France's foreign minister. The move comes as an Israeli NGO reported that one of the French campaigners was briefly placed in solitary confinement.

The four individuals, including a member of the European Parliament from the France Unbowed party of Palestinian descent, were aboard the Madleen sailboat carrying supplies for Gaza when it was stopped by Israeli forces in international waters off the Palestinian territory on Monday. While two French citizens and Swedish activist Greta Thunberg agreed to immediate deportation, the remaining eight activists were detained after refusing to leave voluntarily.

All 12 individuals have been banned from Israel for 100 years, with reports indicating that two of them, including the French MEP and a Brazilian activist, were placed in solitary confinement. The Brazilian activist was reportedly on a hunger and thirst strike and was treated aggressively by prison authorities.

France's Prime Minister accused the activists of exploiting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for political attention, while the leader of the LFI party in parliament criticized the lack of condemnation from French officials. The party's boss called on President Emmanuel Macron to intervene.

Despite the situation, Foreign Minister Barrot defended the French officials' efforts in resolving the issue swiftly. France and Saudi Arabia are preparing to co-host a UN meeting in New York to discuss recognizing a Palestinian state and achieving a two-state solution.

Israel has been urged to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the entire population is at risk of famine. Meanwhile, Israel's defense minister has called on Egypt to prevent a pro-Palestinian activist convoy from reaching Gaza as tensions remain high in the region.