Greta Thunberg was one of 171 activists deported from Israel today after being taken by the Israeli Defense Forces aboard ships sailing as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, attempting to bring aid into Gaza despite an Israeli blockade. Thunberg, 22, arrived in Greece this morning; others from the contingent were deported to Slovakia. A lawyer representing the Flotilla activists said 150 were still being held by Israel, and 40 were on hunger strike to push for “medical treatment [for] all detainees,” reports the Associated Press.
Notes the New York Times, Israel “has limited deliveries to the territory for almost two decades” and “has imposed stringent restrictions on the entry of food and other aid since the war there began two years ago, and for more than two months earlier this year, it prevented any food from being brought in.” In August, a United Nations-backed initiative deemed the starvation campaign in Gaza a “man-made famine.”
Over the weekend, reports circulated alleging that Thunberg and other detainees were mistreated while being detained by Israel. On October 4, the Guardian reported that Thunberg had told Swedish officials that she was “detained in a cell infested with bedbugs, with too little food and water.” Other activists have told the press that Thunberg was “paraded around” in an Israeli flag and beaten, among other allegations. Celebrities like Florence Pugh expressed concerns for Thunberg on social media.
“I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment. Trust me. But that is not the story,” Thunberg said during a press conference following her release. “What happened here was that Israel, while continuing to worsen and escalate their genocide and mass destruction with genocidal intent, attempting to erase an entire population – an entire nation – in front of our very eyes, they once again violated international law by preventing humanitarian aid from getting into Gaza while people are being starved.”
Israeli authorities called the Flotilla a “PR stunt” and denied allegations that activists were mistreated during their detention, calling them “fake news,” per the BBC. The Israeli Foreign Ministry posted on X on Sunday, “The claims regarding the mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other detainees from the Hamas–Sumud flotilla are brazen lies.” The Foreign Ministry also said they received no reports of mistreatment from Thunberg during her detention, and that she refused a prior offer to be deported.
In an interview with the BBC prior to the boats being boarded by the IDF, Thunberg responded to the accusations that the trip was a “stunt,” saying, “First of all I don’t think anyone would risk their lives for a publicity stunt. Second of all, if you think it’s a publicity stunt, have you asked people in Gaza if they consider this a publicity stunt?” In June, Thunberg was among the 12 members of a prior flotilla attempting to break the Israeli blockade detained for about 24 hours by Israel before being deported.
On Friday, an estimated 400,000 Italians held a general strike for Palestine, holding signs reading "Stop the Massacre" and "Hands off the Flotilla!" according to the BBC. More than 40 Italians were aboard the Flotilla ships. Protests also broke out in Spain, Colombia and Argentina, reported Sky News.
According to the Guardian, “indirect negotiations” between Israel and Hamas are underway regarding a ceasefire.
