Ghana deports 3 Israelis after ill-treatment of its citizens at Tel Aviv Airport
Ghana has deported three Israeli nationals in a swift reciprocal response to what it describes as the “ill-treatment and unjustified deportation” of three Ghanaians by Israeli authorities at the Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Wednesday that the deportations were carried out after seven Ghanaian travellers were detained without cause on Sunday, December 7, 2025, including four Members of Parliament attending the Annual International Cybersecurity Conference in Tel Aviv.
The remaining three Ghanaians were placed on the next available flight and have since arrived in Ghana.
In an accompanying statement, the Ministry said: “Following the ill-treatment and unjustified deportation of three Ghanaian nationals by Israeli authorities, the Government of Ghana has been compelled to retaliate by deporting three Israelis who arrived in Ghana earlier today.”
It added that the Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Israeli Embassy had been summoned, as the Ambassador was outside the jurisdiction, and that both countries had “agreed to resolve the matter amicably.”
The government condemned the conduct of Israeli authorities at the entry port, stressing that it had observed “with great concern” a pattern of deliberate targeting and “inhumane and traumatic treatment” of Ghanaian travellers since December 7. According to the Ministry, the detained Ghanaian delegation was released only after more than five hours of “strenuous diplomatic intervention.”
The Ministry rejected Israel’s reported justification that the deportations were linked to alleged non-cooperation by Ghana’s Embassy in Tel Aviv concerning the removal of Ghanaians in Israeli custody. It described the claim as “totally untenable,” insisting that the mission “has been responsive and compliant with international law.”
While reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to longstanding diplomatic ties, the Ministry said the country would not tolerate disrespect towards its citizens. “Ghana deeply values our relations with all friendly countries and expects our citizens to be treated with dignity and respect in much the same way as other governments expect Ghana to treat their nationals,” the statement said.
The Ministry reiterated that Ghana has enjoyed more than six decades of cordial relations with Israel, including substantial volumes of visa-free movement between both nations. It, however, described the recent actions by Israeli authorities as “extremely provocative, unacceptable and inconsistent with our friendly historical relations.”
Although both governments have agreed to seek an amicable solution, the Ministry confirmed that Ghana is considering additional reciprocal measures should the situation persist.
