Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has given a detailed firsthand account of her detention by Israeli forces, describing a systematic campaign of physical abuse, psychological humiliation, and threats of violence during her five-day imprisonment following the interception of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla . Her testimony is part of a wider pattern of alleged mistreatment reported by hundreds of international activists involved in the humanitarian mission.
The Global Sumud Flotilla, a coalition of over 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid, set sail with the goal of breaking Israel's long-standing maritime blockade of Gaza . The mission, which included hundreds of activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers, was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters . In total, Israeli forces arrested 479 people from aboard the flotilla's boats . Most of the detainees, including Thunberg, were held at the Ketziot prison in the Negev desert .
In an interview with the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Greta Thunberg described a harrowing ordeal from the moment of her capture . She alleged that Israeli soldiers hit and kicked her . In what she described as an act of humiliation, soldiers threw an Israeli flag over her and then ripped off her signature frog hat, threw it to the ground, and stomped on it . Thunberg reported that her hands were bound with cable ties and that soldiers lined up to take selfies with her while she was restrained .
Her account of being paraded with the Israeli flag was corroborated by other flotilla participants. Italian journalist Lorenzo D'Agostino stated she was "wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy," while Turkish journalist Ersin Çelik reported witnessing Israeli forces drag her by her hair and force her to kiss the Israeli flag .
Thunberg's allegations are not isolated. Reports from other released activists and official documents paint a picture of systematic mistreatment. According to redacted summaries prepared by Australian diplomatic staff, other detainees alleged they were kicked, slapped, and subjected to sleep deprivation . One Australian reported being forced to take off his clothes and "dance like a monkey" in front of prison guards .
Multiple accounts describe detainees being held in overcrowded outdoor cages in the heat . Thunberg and others reported that guards frequently threatened to gas them, holding up a gas cylinder as a form of intimidation. Essential medication, including insulin and heart medication, was confiscated from detainees and discarded in front of them.
The Israeli government has repeatedly denied all allegations. The Foreign Ministry has labeled the claims "complete lies" and "brazen lies," stating that all detainees were given access to water, food, and medical care, and that their legal rights were fully upheld . Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited the detention facility and was filmed calling the activists "terrorists," later expressing pride that they were being treated as "terror supporters" .
The Swedish government provided consular assistance but, according to Thunberg, offered limited practical help during the ordeal. She stated that Swedish embassy staff witnessed detainees scrambling to drink from water bottles spilled on the floor but continued to walk away . Sweden's foreign minister commented that the activists had "exposed themselves to a great risk" by participating in the mission .
The flotilla's organizers stated their goal was 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 .