Israel has deported 171 activists from the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla to Greece and Slovakia today, authorities confirmed on Monday, with Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg among those expelled from the country.
The activists flew out from southern Israel’s Ramon Airport, with most heading to Athens. The deportees included 28 French citizens, 27 Greeks, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes, including Thunberg. Twenty-one Spanish nationals had returned home separately on Sunday.
The mass deportations follow Israel’s interception last week of more than 40 vessels from the Global Sumud Flotilla. Israeli naval forces detained approximately 450 international activists when they intercepted the flotilla approximately 70 nautical miles from Gaza’s coast.
“Greta and her friends are safe and healthy,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry stated after the initial interception on Wednesday. However, the deportations have sparked international controversy over treatment of the detained activists.
Allegations of Mistreatment Surface
Activists who were deported earlier to Turkey have made serious allegations about conditions in Israeli detention. Turkish journalist Ersin Celik told local media he witnessed Israeli forces mistreat Greta Thunberg, describing how she was dragged on the ground and forced to kiss the Israeli flag.
Italian journalist Lorenzo Agostino stated that Thunberg, who is 22 years old, was humiliated and wrapped in an Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy.
According to Swedish embassy reports, Thunberg developed rashes suspected to be caused by bedbugs and complained of harsh treatment, saying she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.
Israeli rights group Adalah said detainees reported being forced to kneel with zip-tied hands for hours, denied medication, and blocked from speaking with lawyers.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the claims as complete lies, insisting all detainees were treated according to law. “All of Adalah’s claims are complete lies. Of course, all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms; they were not denied access to legal counsel, and all their legal rights were fully upheld,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated.
Largest Maritime Aid Attempt
The Global Sumud Flotilla set sail from Spain last month, with politicians and activists aboard. Nearly 50 vessels and 500 activists took part, making it the largest attempt yet to break Israel’s 18-year-long maritime blockade of Gaza.
The convoy aimed to deliver food, water and medicine to civilians in Gaza. Amongst the participants were lawmakers from Spain and Italy, as well as Thunberg, who was previously deported from Israel in June after another Gaza-bound aid boat she was on was intercepted.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz had warned the flotilla not to proceed. In a statement on 4 June, he declared: “I have instructed the IDF to act to prevent the hate flotilla from reaching the shores of Gaza, and to take whatever measures are necessary to that end. To the antisemitic Greta and her fellow Hamas propaganda spokespeople, I say clearly: You should turn back, because you will not reach Gaza.”
International Condemnation and Protests
The interceptions sparked widespread protests across Europe and beyond. In Spain, 70,000 people turned out for a demonstration in Barcelona. Officials in Greece expected protests in Athens on Saturday and Sunday. More than 2 million people in Italy took part in a one-day general strike on Friday in support of Gaza.
Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani requested an inspection and improvement of detention conditions after Italian embassy staff reported that detention conditions in the prison are particularly uncomfortable.
Far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended the treatment of activists. He stated: “I was proud that we are treating the flotilla activists as terror supporters. Whoever supports terrorism is a terrorist, and deserves the conditions of terrorists.”
Ongoing Deportation Process
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the detained activists provocateurs and said some were deliberately obstructing the legal deportation process, preferring instead to linger in Israel. The ministry added that some foreign governments had shown reluctance to accept flights returning the activists.
A total of 137 activists had already been deported to Turkey on Saturday, including 36 Turkish nationals and citizens from the United States, United Kingdom, Italy, and other countries. In total, 170 flotilla activists had been deported as of Sunday, with several dozen remaining in Ketziot prison.
Gaza Blockade Context
Israel has imposed a naval blockade since Hamas seized Gaza in 2007, and several previous attempts to deliver aid by sea have been mounted. In 2010, nine activists were killed when Israeli forces stormed a flotilla of six ships carrying 700 pro-Palestinian activists from 50 countries.
Nearly two years into Israel’s war in the Gaza enclave, Gaza has been gripped by escalating death and hunger as Israel blocks much-needed aid from reaching Palestinians. In August, the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported parts of Gaza are experiencing a man-made famine.
Israel launched its current offensive in Gaza after the Hamas-led attack of 7 October 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, according to Israeli figures. The war has since killed over 65,000 people in Gaza, local health authorities say.
The deportations come as ceasefire negotiations continue in Cairo, with both Israel and Hamas indicating they accept aspects of a peace proposal outlined by US President Donald Trump.
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