Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg arrived in Greece to a cheering pro-Palestinian crowd on Monday after she and hundreds of other activists were deported by Israel following their capture on the high seas during an attempt to bring aid to Gaza. Thunberg did not dwell on her own experience in detention, instead directing global attention to the situation in Gaza, which she described as a genocide. “Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on,” Thunberg told supporters at the Athens airport, stating that international systems are betraying Palestinians by failing to prevent the worst war crimes from happening.
While Thunberg chose to focus on Gaza, numerous other deported activists have come forward with detailed accounts of alleged mistreatment during their imprisonment. Spanish lawyer Rafael Borrego reported that detainees were beaten, dragged along the ground, blindfolded, and held in cages. Swiss activists alleged inhumane conditions, including sleep deprivation, beatings, and being locked in cages. A legal counsel for the Adalah Legal Centre confirmed that testimonies indicated a series of violations, with activists forced to kneel in painful positions for hours, held in overcrowded cells, and denied adequate food, water, and medical care for extended periods.
Specific and disturbing allegations were made regarding the treatment of Greta Thunberg. Turkish journalist Ersin Çelik, a fellow flotilla participant, claimed he witnessed Israeli forces drag Thunberg by her hair and force her to kiss the Israeli flag. Italian journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino also stated that the 22-year-old activist was “wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy”. Other women and Arab citizens reportedly faced harsher treatment, with some stating that women wearing hijabs were prohibited from their religious head coverings and from praying. French-Palestinian MEP Rima Hassan also reported being beaten by Israeli police officers.
The international activists were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a coalition of dozens of vessels that set sail with the goal of breaking Israel’s 16-year maritime blockade of Gaza and delivering humanitarian aid. Organizers stated the mission was a necessary act of solidarity to open a humanitarian corridor to a population experiencing a severe famine, a situation they described as a direct result of Israel's systematic obstruction of aid. Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a "publicity stunt," arguing the naval blockade is a necessary security measure and that the effort was more about provocation than delivering substantial aid.
The Israeli government has repeatedly and firmly denied all allegations of mistreatment. A spokesperson for the Israeli foreign ministry dismissed the widespread reports as "complete lies," insisting that all detainees were given access to water, food, and restrooms and that their legal rights were fully upheld. The ministry stated the only violent incident involved a Spanish activist biting a female medic, despite being alleged by multiple activists.