Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel after her detention during a Gaza-bound flotilla mission that defied the country’s naval blockade. Images released early Monday show Thunberg walking through an Israeli airport in gray sweats, reportedly en route to Greece alongside roughly 170 other deported activists.
The deportation, confirmed by Israeli authorities on October 6, marks a contrast to Thunberg’s long-standing vow to avoid air travel for environmental reasons. The Swedish activist, who famously sailed to the 2019 United Nations Climate Summit in New York instead of flying, is now being seen boarding planes every few weeks as she faces increasing legal and political turmoil abroad.
Thunberg joined the Global Sumud Flotilla, an international coalition of activists who set sail toward Gaza in late September in an attempt to deliver humanitarian aid and protest Israel’s blockade of the territory. The convoy was composed of dozens of vessels carrying hundreds of participants from around the world.
On October 1, Israeli naval forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters, describing the operation as necessary to prevent what they called “unauthorized maritime entry into a conflict zone.” Thunberg was among those detained when Israeli troops boarded the vessels and escorted them to port.
According to reports, over 400 activists were arrested during the operation. Israel’s military maintained that the flotilla had violated its maritime security laws, while organizers accused the nation of breaching international law and suppressing peaceful activism.
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Following her arrest, Thunberg and other detainees claimed to have endured harsh conditions during their confinement. Some activists claimed they were blindfolded, dragged by guards, or forced to pose with flags for photographs—a humiliation that allegedly included Thunberg herself.
Others said they were coerced into signing documents written in Hebrew that they could not read. Israel’s government has categorically denied the accusations, calling them “fabrications.” A spokesperson for the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that detainees were treated humanely and provided with access to food, medical care, and consular support. The ministry dismissed the flotilla as a “publicity stunt” meant to provoke confrontation rather than deliver genuine aid.
On Monday morning, Thunberg and 170 other activists were placed on deportation flights to Greece and Slovakia, according to Reuters. Photos released by Israeli media showed Thunberg walking through the airport beside other deportees, appearing calm but expressionless as she was escorted through security.
Israeli authorities said the deportations were conducted in accordance with international law. “They were not denied access to legal counsel and all their legal rights were fully upheld,” an Israeli spokesperson said.
However, about 150 activists reportedly remain detained inside Israel, with some allegedly held at Ktziot Prison in the Negev Desert. A number of them are said to have begun hunger strikes to protest their treatment and demand release. Israel insists that the only recorded violence during the flotilla’s interception involved one activist biting a medic. Officials have dismissed other abuse claims, saying all actions taken were “standard security procedures.”
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Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson called her participation in the flotilla “very foolish,” noting that Sweden could do little to assist citizens who deliberately place themselves in dangerous foreign conflicts. “We think it’s very stupid to do that. We strongly advise against making such trips that are dangerous because we can’t always help,” he said.
Human rights organizations and pro-Palestinian groups, meanwhile, have accused Israel of violating international law and mistreating nonviolent protesters. They are calling for an independent investigation into the conditions faced by those still detained.
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