Israel is preparing to deport more than 120 pro-Palestinian activists who were detained at the international airport near Tel Aviv.

Officials said Saturday that authorities had placed the activists in jail as they await deportation.

The protesters had arrived on flights from Europe over the past few days in a bid to show solidarity with Palestinians in the West Bank.

Israel has already deported four activists who made it into the country.

The fly-in follows an attempt by hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists to organize an aid flotilla to challenge the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip. The flotilla stalled after Greece banned the ships from sailing from its ports.

Meanwhile, hundreds of Palestinians and activists rallied at the West Bank checkpoint of Qalandia on Saturday.

The Ma'an news agency quotes activists who say the demonstration is a start of a series of protests designed to highlight what they say is an Israeli attempt to isolate Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.