Greta Thunberg arrived in Athens, Greece, on Monday to a warm welcome from a pro-Palestinian crowd after being deported by Israel alongside hundreds of other activists attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.
She criticized Israel’s military actions, calling them a “genocide” and decrying the international system’s failure to protect Palestinians.
Israel expelled 171 activists on Monday, bringing the total deported so far to 341 out of 479 detained during the flotilla attempt to breach its naval blockade of Gaza. Among those arriving in Athens were 22 Swedish activists, including Thunberg, 27 Greeks, and citizens from nearly 20 other countries.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla aimed to step up when our governments failed to fulfill their legal obligations,” Thunberg said, emphasizing that humanitarian aid was blocked while residents in Gaza suffer severe shortages.
Allegations of mistreatment during detention
Several activists reported harsh conditions while detained by Israeli forces. Swiss and Spanish participants claimed mistreatment, including being blindfolded, tied, denied food and water, and having belongings confiscated. Thunberg herself was reportedly shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag during detention.
Spanish activist lawyer Rafael Borrego stated that deported participants were “beaten, dragged, blindfolded, tied, and insulted” during their transfer.
Israel rejects allegations
Israel’s foreign ministry denied the claims, describing them as “complete lies” and insisting that detainees were provided with food, water, restroom access, and legal counsel. Photos of Thunberg at the airport were released to confirm her well-being.
A Swiss Embassy visit in Tel Aviv reportedly found Swiss nationals “in relatively good health, given the circumstances.” Israel maintained that the flotilla was a publicity stunt benefiting Hamas.
Thunberg’s message in Athens
Upon arrival, Thunberg addressed the crowd, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza:
“What happened here was that Israel, while continuing to escalate their genocide and mass destruction, once again violated international law by preventing humanitarian aid from getting into Gaza while people are being starved.”
Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, also on the flotilla, noted that mistreatment during detention was minor compared to the suffering endured by Palestinians daily.
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