About 175 Gaza flotilla activists were released in Crete, a Greek island, Friday, except for two of them, who were taken by Israeli authorities for questioning.

An AFP journalist reported seeing them deported in four buses to the port of Atherinolakkos in the island’s southeast, chanting “Free Palestine.”

Israel’s Foreign Ministry labeled the flotilla a “provocation.”

“As published by the Board of Peace and the U.S. State Department, the humanitarian activity in the Gaza Strip is managed by the BoP, and this Hamas-led flotilla is another provocation designed to divert attention from Hamas’s refusal to disarm — and to serve the PR interests of professional provocateurs,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Israel thanked Greece for coordinating the release of the detainees, saying it helped prevent escalation.

The two remaining detainees have been identified as Saif Abu Keshek, a Palestinian-Spanish citizen, and Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian citizen, who are suspected of illegal activity.

“Saif Abu Keshek, suspected of affiliation with a terrorist organization, and Thiago Ávila, suspected of illegal activity, will be brought to Israel for questioning,” the Foreign Ministry posted on X, without adding details.

The Israeli navy intercepted the flotilla much farther away from Gaza’s shore than during earlier flotilla attempts to breach the blockade, explaining that “due to the large numbers of vessels participating in the flotilla and the risk of escalation, and the need to prevent the breach of a lawful blockade, an early action was required in accordance with international law.”

The navy intercepted 21 boats, and the flotilla’s organizers said the remaining 31 will continue sailing on to attempt to “break the illegal siege of Gaza.”

But Israel is determined not to allow that to happen.

“Israel will not allow the breach of the lawful naval blockade on Gaza,” the Foreign Ministry said.