Greta Thunberg and 170 Activists Deported from Israel Following Gaza-Bound Flotilla Interception

Activists Deported After Gaza Flotilla Interception

Greta Thunberg, the prominent Swedish climate activist, was among 171 individuals deported by Israeli authorities on Monday, October 6, 2025. The deportations followed the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a convoy of vessels attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of the Gaza Strip and deliver humanitarian aid. The activists were primarily sent to Greece and Slovakia.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the deportations, noting that the activists hailed from various countries, including Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States. Among those deported were 15 Italian citizens on Monday, with an additional 26 Italians having been deported earlier.

Allegations of Mistreatment in Detention

Upon their return, many activists, including Thunberg, reported experiencing mistreatment during their detention by Israeli forces. Allegations included physical violence, sleep deprivation, lack of adequate food and water, and humiliation. Spanish activists claimed they were 'beaten, dragged along the ground, blindfolded, tied their hands and feet, put us in cages and insulted us.' Thunberg reportedly informed Swedish officials that she was held in a cell 'infested with bedbugs' and provided with 'insufficient food and water.' Some accounts also suggested she was 'shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag.'

In response to these claims, Israeli authorities 'strongly rejected' accusations of mistreatment, asserting that the detainees' rights were 'respected throughout their detention.' The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the flotilla as a 'publicity stunt' and denied allegations of genocide in Gaza. They also reported an incident where an activist allegedly 'bit a female medical staff member.'

Thunberg's Statements and Flotilla's Objective

Arriving in Athens, Greta Thunberg addressed supporters, describing the mission as a 'shame' and urging global leaders to end their 'complicity' with the 'genocide' in Gaza. She emphasized, 'We cannot take our eyes away from Gaza.' Thunberg characterized the Global Sumud Flotilla as 'the biggest ever attempt to break Israel's illegal and inhumane siege by sea.' The flotilla, comprising 42 vessels and carrying a symbolic amount of humanitarian aid, aimed to draw international attention to the humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the United Nations has indicated a widespread hunger crisis.