171 Gaza Flotilla Activists Deported Amid Alleged Torture

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, 171 Gaza Flotilla Activists Deported Amid Alleged Torture. Israel has deported 171 activists, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, after intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international humanitarian mission aimed at delivering aid to Gaza. The activists allege mistreatment, physical abuse, humiliation, and torture during their detention in Israeli custody, sparking global condemnation and calls for accountability.

The flotilla, which departed from multiple European ports last month, carried humanitarian aid including food, water, and medicine to Gaza, a territory under a long-standing Israeli blockade. Israel described the mission as a provocation and claimed the blockade enforcement was legal under international law.

171 Gaza Flotilla Activists Deported Amid Alleged Torture

Activists Allege Severe Mistreatment

Italian activist Lorenzo D’Agostino, speaking to the Associated Press upon his arrival at Istanbul Airport, described being forced to kneel on concrete for hours, with his wrists tightly bound, in freezing temperatures, and having his personal belongings seized or destroyed.

“We were shocked by the level of humiliation and gratuitous cruelty,” he said. “The way we were treated pushed the limits of mistreatment and humiliation.”

Other activists, including Paolo De Montis, recounted being forced to stay on their knees for four hours, prevented from looking their captors in the eye, and repeatedly slapped or shaken by guards.

Italian activist Cesare Tofani also described a harsh journey from military to police custody, stating, “We were treated terribly… there was harassment.”

Several activists reported that detainees from countries not allied with Israel, including Turkey, were physically harmed, with at least one suffering a broken arm without access to painkillers for two days.

Also Read: ‘Treated like animals, on knees, facing down’: Deported Gaza flotilla activists’ shocking accounts of Israel action

Allegations Against Greta Thunberg

Multiple witnesses, including Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi and Turkish journalist Ersin Celik, alleged that Greta Thunberg was forcibly dragged by her hair, assaulted, and made to kiss the Israeli flag as a public humiliation tactic.

D’Agostino stated that Thunberg was constantly surrounded by Israeli flags, photographed in front of them, and kept separate from other detainees. Lubna Tuma, a legal counsel for the Adalah Legal Centre, confirmed that Thunberg, along with one other detainee, was forced to pose for pictures with the flag as a deliberate act of intimidation.

A Swedish embassy email reported that Thunberg described her cell as bedbug-infested, with insufficient food and water, long periods of sitting on hard surfaces, and rash development suspected to be from insect bites.

Israeli Government Response

Israel’s foreign ministry and officials have categorically denied all allegations of mistreatment, describing them as “pre-planned fake news campaigns.”

“All legal rights of the participants were fully upheld,” the ministry stated, insisting that detainees were not denied access to legal counsel, food, or water.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right politician, publicly defended the treatment of the flotilla activists. In statements, he said he was “proud” of their harsh treatment, labeling the activists supporters of terrorism and stating they deserved conditions akin to those of terrorist prisoners.

Ben-Gvir criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for deporting the activists instead of keeping them in Israeli prisons for several months, claiming that repeated deportations allowed activists to attempt similar missions in the future.

Also Read: Israel Intercepts Gaza Aid Flotilla: 42 Boats Seized, Global Outrage Follows

Conditions Reported by Other Activists

• Rafael Borrego, a Spanish activist, showed handcuff marks on his wrists and described being pointed at with weapons, dragged, and threatened by dogs.
• Marco Tesh, a Dutch activist, reported being unable to breathe at one point due to restraints.
• Rima Hassan, French-Palestinian MEP, said she was beaten by two police officers while being placed in a van.
• Yasmin Acar, flotilla steering committee member, claimed detainees were deprived of sleep, water, and food and treated like animals.

Several activists reported being forced to watch footage of Hamas attacks, adding psychological trauma to the physical mistreatment.

Deportations and International Reactions

A total of 171 activists were deported to Greece and Slovakia, including citizens from Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia, and the US.

The flotilla included 479 participants, meaning around 138 activists remain in detention in Israel, with reports of hunger strikes by over 40 detainees.

Greta Thunberg, upon arrival in Athens International Airport, addressed supporters:

“The Global Sumud Flotilla was the biggest ever attempt to break Israel’s illegal and inhumane siege by sea. It was a story of global solidarity… What happened here is that Israel, while escalating mass destruction, violated international law by preventing humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza while people were being starved.”

Activists Highlight Humanitarian Crisis

Thunberg and other participants emphasized that the flotilla aimed to deliver aid to Gaza’s civilians amid widespread food insecurity. Experts from the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned of a famine in Gaza City, with malnutrition spreading rapidly.

• Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reported at least 460 Palestinians dead due to malnutrition since the war’s onset.
• The UN has repeatedly called for lifting the blockade to allow humanitarian aid.
• Israel disputes the famine figures and maintains its blockade is legal, asserting that flotilla aid deliveries were minimal and posed a security threat.

Timeline of Events

1. Late August–September 2025: The Global Sumud Flotilla departs European ports to deliver aid to Gaza.
2. 7–10 October 2025: Israeli forces intercept the flotilla, detaining 479 activists.
3. 10–13 October 2025: Activists report mistreatment, physical abuse, and humiliation in detention.
4. Mid-October 2025: Israel begins deporting activists, totaling 171, including Greta Thunberg, to Greece and Slovakia.
5. Ongoing: Remaining activists continue hunger strikes; international human rights groups demand investigation.

Legal and Human Rights Concerns

• Adalah Legal Centre described the detention as a “series of violations” of international law, including physical abuse, psychological harassment, and denial of basic rights.
• UN human rights bodies have called on Israel to ensure adequate food, medical care, and legal access for detainees.
• Activists allege violation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which prohibits interference with humanitarian missions in international waters.

Reports of Inhumane Treatment

• Activists forced to kneel for hours without relief.
• Belongings, money, and medication confiscated.
• Sleep deprivation and denial of clean water and food.
• Physical assaults including slaps, hits, and dragging.
• Psychological abuse via intimidation, photographing in front of Israeli flags, and exposure to violent media.

Global Reactions

• European governments welcomed deported activists and expressed concern over reported human rights violations.
• Turkey received 36 deportees and condemned mistreatment allegations.
• Sweden confirmed Thunberg’s safety but acknowledged reports of inadequate detention conditions.
• NGOs and human rights groups urged independent investigations into alleged abuse and treatment of activists in Israeli custody.

The Role of High-Profile Figures

• Greta Thunberg’s presence brought significant global attention, highlighting both the blockade and the treatment of activists.
• Italian and Spanish parliamentarians aboard the flotilla criticized Israel for using force and detention instead of allowing aid to reach Gaza.
• Activists emphasized the flotilla as a humanitarian mission, countering Israel’s narrative of a security threat.

Israel’s Position

Israel maintains the following:

• All legal rights of detainees were upheld.
• Detainees received food, water, and access to restrooms.
• Thunberg and other deportees refused expedited deportation voluntarily.
• Flotilla actions are labeled a “publicity stunt” benefiting Hamas, carrying only two tons of aid.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir reinforced a hardline approach, describing activists as terrorist supporters, criticizing Netanyahu’s decision to deport instead of detaining them longer.

Continued Tensions in Gaza

• The flotilla was the largest international attempt to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza by sea.
• Israel continues military operations in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack, resulting in over 67,000 deaths in Gaza.
• Humanitarian agencies warn of widespread hunger and displacement, pressing Israel and the international community to allow aid into Gaza.

Voices From Deportees

1. D’Agostino (Italy): Forced to kneel, wrists bound, mocked, and left in cold with few clothes.
2. De Montis (Italy): Hours of kneeling, physical harassment, constant humiliation.
3. Borrego (Spain): Dragged, handcuffed, threatened by dogs, injuries visible.
4. Celick (Turkey): Witnessed Thunberg being dragged and forced to kiss flag.
5. Helmi (Malaysia): Denied clean food, water, and personal belongings.
6. Tesh (Netherlands): Breathing restricted, tied hands to back.

Summary

The deportation of 171 Gaza flotilla activists, including Greta Thunberg, has drawn international attention to alleged mistreatment, torture, and human rights abuses in Israeli detention.

While Israel denies all allegations, activists and legal representatives report systematic abuse, psychological intimidation, and denial of basic needs.

The flotilla mission highlights ongoing tensions over the Gaza blockade, humanitarian crises, and international law disputes, with activists calling for global accountability and an end to the blockade.

The situation remains dynamic, with remaining detainees in Israeli custody and ongoing hunger strikes, keeping global attention focused on Gaza’s humanitarian situation and Israel’s legal responsibilities under international law.