Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg has launched a second attempt to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza, departing from Barcelona on Sunday as part of the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to the war-torn territory.
The 22-year-old climate campaigner is leading what organisers describe as the largest solidarity mission in history, with approximately 20 vessels setting sail from the Spanish port and dozens more expected to join from Tunisia and other Mediterranean ports on 4 September.
However, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is reportedly planning to detain the activists under harsh “terrorist-level” conditions at the Ktzi’ot and Damon detention centres, according to a report in Israel Hayom that has sparked international concern.
Harsh Detention Plans
According to sources close to Ben-Gvir cited by Israel Hayom, the far-right minister will present Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with a plan on Sunday to impose unprecedented punitive measures on the flotilla participants.
The proposed detention conditions include housing activists in facilities typically reserved for security prisoners, without access to television, radio or “superior-quality meals,” with prolonged custody periods rather than overnight detention followed by deportation.
Following several weeks at Ktzi’ot and Damon, they’ll be sorry about the time they arrived here. We must eliminate their appetite for another attempt,” individuals close to Ben-Gvir told Israel Hayom.
The plan also includes seizing the flotilla vessels and converting them into a “maritime force for police operations.
Star-Studded Mission
Joining Thunberg on the Global Sumud Flotilla are Game of Thrones actor Liam Cunningham and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, among activists from 44 countries. The name “Sumud” means “perseverance” in Arabic.
Speaking at a press conference before departure, Thunberg defended the mission against accusations of antisemitism, telling Sky News: “It is not antisemitic to say that we should not be bombing people, that one should not be living in occupation, that everyone should have the right to live in freedom and dignity, no matter who you are.
The activist, who rose to prominence leading school strikes for climate action, said the flotilla aims to “deliver humanitarian aid and break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and open up a people’s humanitarian corridor.
Previous Detention
This marks Thunberg’s second attempt to reach Gaza by sea. In June, she was among 12 activists detained when Israeli forces intercepted the vessel Madleen in international waters, 185 kilometres west of Gaza.
During that incident, Israeli authorities gave the activists a choice between deportation or arrest. Thunberg and three others agreed to be removed from Israel, whilst others were held longer. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs later mocked the “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrity” activists, stating the “tiny amount of aid” would be transferred through “real humanitarian channels.”
Humanitarian Crisis
The flotilla’s launch comes as Gaza faces what the United Nations has declared a state of famine, with 500,000 people facing “catastrophic” conditions. Food experts warned earlier this month that Gaza City was experiencing famine, with half a million people across the strip facing catastrophic levels of hunger.
According to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, at least 332 Palestinians have died from malnutrition since the conflict began, including 124 children. The blockade, in place since 2007 when Hamas took control of the territory, has been tightened significantly since October 2023.
International Support
The Spanish government has indicated it will “deploy all of its diplomatic and consular protection to protect our citizens” sailing with the flotilla, according to Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. Spain recognised Palestine as an independent state last year.
Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila described the effort as “the largest solidarity mission in history, with more people and more boats than all previous attempts combined.
IDF Response
The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) issued a statement saying it “enforces the security naval blockade on the Gaza Strip and is prepared for a wide range of scenarios, which it will act upon in accordance with the directives of the political echelon.
Previous attempts to break the blockade have been met with force. In 2010, Israeli special forces raided a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, killing eight Turkish activists and an American-Turkish teenager in what became known as the Mavi Marmara incident.
Thunberg’s Motivation
In a promotional video for the mission, Thunberg stated: “It should not have to be up to us. A mission like this should not have to exist. It is the responsibility of countries, of our governments and elected officials to act to try to uphold international law, to prevent war crimes, to prevent genocide.
She added that she was “terrified” by the “silence of the world” about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, saying: “I’m terrified to see that we seem to have lost all the humanity that we have, and there seems to be no compassion left in the world.
Legal Concerns
The proposed detention conditions have raised serious legal questions. Ben-Gvir’s plan suggests justifying the harsh treatment by claiming the activists are violating a restricted military area and documenting any links to what Israel considers terror groups.
The Ktzi’ot detention facility, located in the Negev Desert, and Damon prison for women are known for housing Palestinian security prisoners under strict conditions. Human rights groups have previously criticised conditions in these facilities.
As the flotilla makes its way across the Mediterranean, with an expected arrival in mid-September, the international community watches to see whether Israel will follow through on Ben-Gvir’s harsh proposals or opt for its previous approach of detention and deportation.
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