Eyewitnesses on a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza described environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg being dragged, beaten, and paraded by Israeli forces after her detention . The accounts depict a scene of intimidation and mistreatment that shocked those on board.
An email from the Swedish foreign ministry to people close to Thunberg, citing an official who visited her in prison, said she was held in a cell infested with bedbugs, given insufficient food and water, and forced to sit for long periods on hard surfaces.
“The embassy has been able to meet with Greta,” reads the email. “She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.”
Another detainee reportedly told an embassy, as quoted by The Guardian , that Thunberg was forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. “She wondered whether images of her had been distributed,” the Swedish official added. These allegations were corroborated by at least two other members of the flotilla who had been detained and later released.
Eyewitnesses described the treatment in more vivid detail. Turkish activist Ersin Çelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency : “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.”
Lorenzo D’Agostino, a journalist and flotilla participant, said Thunberg was “wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy” – a scene described with disbelief and anger by those who witnessed it.
During a visit to Ashdod port on Thursday night, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was filmed calling the activists “terrorists.” “These are the terrorists of the flotilla,” he said in Hebrew, pointing at dozens of people sitting on the ground. Some activists were heard shouting, “Free Palestine.” Ben-Gvir has previously called for activists to be jailed rather than deported, reported The Guardian.
Israel refutes allegations
The Israeli foreign ministry has denied these claims calling them “brazen lies.”
In a post on X Sunday, it said, “The claims regarding the mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other detainees from the Hamas–Sumud flotilla are brazen lies. All the detainees’ legal rights are fully upheld. Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody. Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations - because they never occurred.”
Thunberg was among 437 activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers on the Global Sumud flotilla, a coalition of more than 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid attempting to breach Israel’s 16-year maritime blockade of Gaza. Between Thursday and Friday, Israeli forces intercepted all the boats and arrested every crew member. Most are being held at Ketziot prison in the Negev desert, a facility primarily used for Palestinian security detainees.
Lawyers representing the flotilla said that detainees were left for hours without food or water, with the exception of “a packet of crisps handed to Greta and shown to the cameras.” Instances of verbal and physical abuse were also reported.
According to the NGO Adalah, detainees’ rights were “systematically violated,” including denial of water, sanitation, medication, and access to legal representatives.
During a visit to Ashdod port on Thursday night, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was filmed calling the activists “terrorists.” “These are the terrorists of the flotilla,” he said in Hebrew, pointing at dozens of people sitting on the ground. Some activists were heard shouting, “Free Palestine.” Ben-Gvir has previously called for activists to be jailed rather than deported, reported The Guardian.
This marks the second time Thunberg has been arrested during a flotilla attempt; a previous attempt earlier this year ended with her arrest and deportation. French doctor Baptiste Andre, who was on one of the boats in June, told reporters that Israeli agents had mocked and deliberately deprived passengers of sleep, singling out Thunberg.
An email from the Swedish foreign ministry to people close to Thunberg, citing an official who visited her in prison, said she was held in a cell infested with bedbugs, given insufficient food and water, and forced to sit for long periods on hard surfaces.
“The embassy has been able to meet with Greta,” reads the email. “She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.”
Another detainee reportedly told an embassy, as quoted by The Guardian , that Thunberg was forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. “She wondered whether images of her had been distributed,” the Swedish official added. These allegations were corroborated by at least two other members of the flotilla who had been detained and later released.
Eyewitnesses described the treatment in more vivid detail. Turkish activist Ersin Çelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency : “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.”
Lorenzo D’Agostino, a journalist and flotilla participant, said Thunberg was “wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy” – a scene described with disbelief and anger by those who witnessed it.
During a visit to Ashdod port on Thursday night, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was filmed calling the activists “terrorists.” “These are the terrorists of the flotilla,” he said in Hebrew, pointing at dozens of people sitting on the ground. Some activists were heard shouting, “Free Palestine.” Ben-Gvir has previously called for activists to be jailed rather than deported, reported The Guardian.
Israel refutes allegations
The Israeli foreign ministry has denied these claims calling them “brazen lies.”
In a post on X Sunday, it said, “The claims regarding the mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other detainees from the Hamas–Sumud flotilla are brazen lies. All the detainees’ legal rights are fully upheld. Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody. Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations - because they never occurred.”
The claims regarding the mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other detainees from the Hamas–Sumud flotilla are brazen lies.
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) October 5, 2025
All the detainees’ legal rights are fully upheld.
Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted…
Thunberg was among 437 activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers on the Global Sumud flotilla, a coalition of more than 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid attempting to breach Israel’s 16-year maritime blockade of Gaza. Between Thursday and Friday, Israeli forces intercepted all the boats and arrested every crew member. Most are being held at Ketziot prison in the Negev desert, a facility primarily used for Palestinian security detainees.
Lawyers representing the flotilla said that detainees were left for hours without food or water, with the exception of “a packet of crisps handed to Greta and shown to the cameras.” Instances of verbal and physical abuse were also reported.
According to the NGO Adalah, detainees’ rights were “systematically violated,” including denial of water, sanitation, medication, and access to legal representatives.
During a visit to Ashdod port on Thursday night, Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, was filmed calling the activists “terrorists.” “These are the terrorists of the flotilla,” he said in Hebrew, pointing at dozens of people sitting on the ground. Some activists were heard shouting, “Free Palestine.” Ben-Gvir has previously called for activists to be jailed rather than deported, reported The Guardian.
This marks the second time Thunberg has been arrested during a flotilla attempt; a previous attempt earlier this year ended with her arrest and deportation. French doctor Baptiste Andre, who was on one of the boats in June, told reporters that Israeli agents had mocked and deliberately deprived passengers of sleep, singling out Thunberg.
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