Israel deported 171 activists, among them climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who had been detained after Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. The deportees were flown to Greece and Slovakia, according to Israel’s foreign ministry.
The operation involved the Global Sumud Flotilla, a civilian convoy of more than 40 boats carrying around 470 people from various countries. Organisers said the flotilla was on a peaceful mission to deliver humanitarian supplies and raise awareness about the worsening situation in Gaza. Israel, however, described the voyage as a “PR stunt” and insisted that the participants were warned not to breach its naval blockade on the enclave. Citics and some activists had argued that the move violates maritime and humanitarian norms.
Several activists who have already been deported claimed they were abused while in Israeli custody. Some described being beaten, dragged, blindfolded, denied medical care, and held in deplorable conditions. Swiss and Spanish detainees, for example, said they endured sleep deprivation, inadequate food and water, and harsh treatment.
Israel’s foreign ministry rejected those claims, calling them “complete lies.” In a post on X (formerly Twitter), it said all detainees’ legal rights were fully upheld and accused the flotilla members of spreading misinformation. Israeli officials also stated that the only violent incident reported during detention involved an activist biting a medical staff member at Ketziot Prison.
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The deportees reportedly include citizens from a wide range of countries: Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the United States. Israel said that at the time of these deportations, 138 activists remained in custody.
This marks the second time Greta Thunberg has been deported by Israel after a flotilla mission. The interception and subsequent deportations have reignited debate over Israel’s blockade of Gaza, which human rights organisations and aid groups have long criticised for deepening the territory’s humanitarian crisis. Activists behind the flotilla said their effort was peaceful and symbolic, aimed at breaking the isolation of Gaza’s civilians.
Israel maintains that its blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas, while critics argue it has effectively trapped over two million Palestinians in worsening conditions.