Greta Thunberg, a Swedish activist, received a warm welcome from pro-Palestinian supporters in Greece on Monday. She and numerous other activists were deported by Israel after being detained for attempting to provide aid to Gaza. Israel confirmed the expulsion of 171 activists on Monday, including Thunberg, making a total of 341 deportees out of 479 individuals held during the interception of the flotilla trying to break the naval blockade of Gaza.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, 161 activists, including Thunberg and 27 Greek nationals, arrived in Athens on Monday. Thunberg, 22, addressed the crowd at the Athens airport, highlighting what she described as a genocide in Gaza due to Israeli military actions. She criticized the international community for failing to prevent war crimes and emphasized the purpose of the Global Sumud flotilla to act where governments fell short of their obligations.
In a separate development, Canada confirmed that three Canadians detained on a flotilla vessel by Israel will be released. The deportees included citizens from various countries such as Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, and others, as stated by the Israeli foreign ministry.
Allegations of mistreatment surfaced among some of the deported activists, including claims of sleep deprivation, lack of basic necessities, physical abuse, and confinement in cages. While the activists reported mistreatment upon their return, Israeli authorities have denied these accusations, asserting that all detainees were provided with essential amenities and legal rights.
The Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed the relatively good health of ten Swiss nationals among the deportees. Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who was part of the flotilla, acknowledged mistreatment but emphasized the daily struggles faced by the Palestinian people. Spanish journalists also highlighted challenges faced by the activists, including issues with documentation and consular assistance during their detention in Israel.
Overall, the situation involving the deported activists continues to raise concerns about the treatment of individuals detained by Israeli authorities and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
