In a move that has sparked global attention, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and 170 other international activists were deported from Israel on Monday after attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via a flotilla. The activists, sailing aboard the Sirius, Alma, and Adara, were intercepted as they approached the Israeli naval blockade and taken to a port before detention.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry described the flotilla as a &ldquo;public relations stunt&rdquo; and shared images of the activists at the airport, asserting that &ldquo;all the legal rights of the participants in this PR stunt were and will continue to be fully upheld.&rdquo; Officials also claimed that accusations of mistreatment were part of a &ldquo;pre-planned fake news campaign&rdquo; and said the only recorded violent incident involved a &ldquo;Hamas&ndash;Sumud provocateur&rdquo; who bit a female medical staff member.
However, fellow activists Hazwani Helmi and Windfield Beaver alleged that Thunberg had been dragged by her hair, shoved, and forced to wear an Israeli flag during detention. &ldquo;It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,&rdquo; they said, describing the treatment as humiliating and violent. Israel firmly denied these claims, emphasizing that the activists&rsquo; rights were respected.
Also read <a href="https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/greta-thunberg-mistreated-in-israeli-custody/20274">https://www.benefitnews24.com/international/greta-thunberg-mistreated-in-israeli-custody/20274</a>
The deportees hail from more than 17 countries, including Greece, Italy, France, Sweden, Germany, and the United States. The flotilla had aimed to deliver aid to civilians in Gaza, highlighting the humanitarian crisis under Israel&rsquo;s blockade, which has been in place since 2007. Organizers insisted the mission was purely humanitarian, while Israel maintained it violated maritime law and posed a security risk.
Thunberg, who has become an outspoken advocate linking climate action to human rights, has previously spoken in support of Palestinian civilians. Her involvement in the flotilla has drawn both criticism and admiration, with supporters praising her courage and critics accusing her of political posturing.
Despite the deportations, the flotilla succeeded in drawing international attention to Gaza&rsquo;s humanitarian challenges. Images of Thunberg being escorted by Israeli police circulated widely, becoming a stark symbol of the tensions between activism and state authority. While she is now back in Europe, the confrontation has intensified debates around human rights, international law, and the role of activists in conflict zones.
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Israel Deports Greta Thunberg, 170 Activists

Israel calls Gaza aid flotilla a “PR stunt” as Greta Thunberg, 170 activists deported

Israel Deports Greta Thunberg, 170 Activists

Israel calls Gaza aid flotilla a “PR stunt” as Greta Thunberg, 170 activists deported

October 6, 2025 | 19:14 IST