Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has once again become a flashpoint in the global conversation on human rights and political dissent, after fellow activists claimed she was mistreated while detained by Israeli authorities.
Thunberg was among over 450 international activists detained last week after a Gaza-bound aid flotilla was intercepted by Israeli naval forces. The flotilla, carrying medical and humanitarian supplies, had set sail in defiance of Israel&rsquo;s blockade of Gaza.
When the activists were detained, they allege that Thunberg &mdash; one of the most prominent figures in the mission &mdash; was dragged by her hair, assaulted, and forced to wear an Israeli flag during her detention.
&ldquo;They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,&rdquo; said one activist who witnessed the alleged abuse.
Two other activists, Hazwani Helmi, a Malaysian national, and Windfield Beaver, an American citizen, also claimed they saw Thunberg being shoved and humiliated. &ldquo;It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,&rdquo; said Helmi, adding that detainees were denied clean food, water, and medication. Beaver added that Thunberg was &ldquo;treated terribly&rdquo; and &ldquo;used as propaganda,&rdquo; describing how she was pushed into a room during the arrival of Israel&rsquo;s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.
Another activist, Ersin &Ccedil;elik, said Thunberg&rsquo;s treatment was meant to send a chilling message to others challenging Israeli policy. &ldquo;They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,&rdquo; he said.
In total, around 137 activists were deported to Turkey after days in detention. Those aboard included nationals from the United States, Italy, Malaysia, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, and Switzerland.
While Israel&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry denied all allegations of abuse, calling reports of mistreatment &ldquo;complete lies,&rdquo; several activists and legal aid groups described harsh conditions inside detention facilities. According to an Israeli human rights organization, some detainees were denied access to lawyers, water, and restrooms, and were zip-tied and forced to kneel for hours.
Meanwhile, a confidential email from the Swedish foreign ministry, shared with those close to Thunberg, described her condition during detention. The email stated that she had developed rashes, possibly from bedbugs, and complained of dehydration and insufficient food and water. She also told officials that she had been forced to hold flags while being photographed and had spent long hours sitting on hard surfaces.
Israel has rejected these claims, insisting that &ldquo;all detainees were provided food, water, and full legal access&rdquo; and that their rights were &ldquo;fully upheld.&rdquo; Officials described the flotilla as an attempt to &ldquo;provoke confrontation&rdquo; and said Israel&rsquo;s actions were in accordance with &ldquo;a lawful naval blockade.&rdquo;
The flotilla, which set sail in late August, was part of an international campaign to challenge Israel&rsquo;s control over Gaza&rsquo;s waters. It marked the latest attempt by global activists to break the blockade and deliver humanitarian aid amid ongoing military operations in Gaza since the October 2023 Hamas attacks.
Despite Israel&rsquo;s dismissal of the allegations, the accounts from those deported have intensified calls for an independent investigation into the treatment of detainees. Human rights organizations have warned that the alleged abuse of high-profile figures like Greta Thunberg could deepen scrutiny of Israel&rsquo;s handling of political dissent and international activists.
As Thunberg remains silent publicly, her ordeal whether confirmed or denied has reignited global debate on the limits of protest, state power, and the price of standing up for Gaza.

Greta Thunberg ‘Mistreated’ in Israeli Custody

Activists allege Thunberg was dragged, beaten & forced to wear Israeli flag in detention

Greta Thunberg ‘Mistreated’ in Israeli Custody

Activists allege Thunberg was dragged, beaten & forced to wear Israeli flag in detention

October 5, 2025 | 10:34 IST