Greta Thunberg Among 171 Activists Deported After Israel Intercepts Gaza-Bound Fleet
Tel Aviv – Israeli authorities have deported 171 activists who participated in a flotilla attempting to reach Gaza with aid,including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg,the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Monday. the activists were detained after the Israeli Navy intercepted the “Global Sumud Flotilla” – comprised of approximately 45 ships – which set out in september to deliver relief goods to the Gaza Strip.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted images on X (formerly Twitter) showing Thunberg and two other women in standard Israeli prison attire at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. According to the ministry, the deported individuals hail from a diverse range of countries including Germany, Bulgaria, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Norway, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Serbia, Switzerland, slovakia, and the USA.
The German Federal Foreign Office confirmed Monday that 14 German citizens involved in the flotilla are currently in Israeli custody, with those refusing voluntary departure facing potential deportation, according to a spokesperson.
Israel began intercepting vessels from the flotilla on Wednesday, preventing them from reaching Gaza and detaining those on board. This action follows previous deportations of activists in recent days. Demonstrations protesting the interception of the aid fleet have occurred in multiple European cities.
