Israeli authorities deported climate activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday after detaining her aboard the Madleen, a charity vessel carrying aid to Gaza, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
The boat, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), aimed to break Israel’s illegal siege on Gaza and highlight the humanitarian crisis there.
On Monday, Israeli naval forces intercepted the vessel 200 kilometers off Gaza’s coast in international waters, an action the FFC and rights groups condemned as illegal.
“Their detention is unlawful, politically motivated and a direct violation of international law,” the FFC stated.
The ministry confirmed Thunberg’s departure to Sweden via France, releasing images of her on a plane, where an Israeli man was recorded using a French slur against her.
Of the 12 activists aboard the Madleen, three, including Thunberg, and a journalist were deported, while eight others refused to sign deportation papers and remain detained.
The FFC reported these activists are likely held at Givon Prison in Ramleh, awaiting hearings before an Israeli tribunal.
Adalah, a legal rights group representing the activists, stated that Israel lacked authority to seize the ship, as it was headed to Palestinian territorial waters.
“The arrest of the unarmed activists, who operated in a civilian manner to provide humanitarian aid, amounts to a serious breach of international law,” Adalah said.
Sergio Toribio, a deported Spanish activist, called the seizure “a pirate attack in international waters” upon arriving in Barcelona.
The interception has drawn sharp criticism from rights groups, with Amnesty International accusing Israel of flouting international law and demanding the activists’ immediate release.
The FFC echoed this, calling for the return of the seized aid and the activists’ freedom to complete their mission.
Israel, however, defended its actions, labeling the boat a “selfie yacht” carrying minimal aid and claiming the interception complied with international law.
As legal battles loom, the incident underscores tensions over Israel’s illegal naval blockade of Gaza and the rights of humanitarian missions in international waters.