Israel has deported Greta Thunberg and 170 other activists of the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were detained after the flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza was intercepted.
It is the second time Thunberg has been deported by Israel after unsuccessfully trying to reach Gaza by sea.
Israel stated that the 171 people have been deported to Greece and Slovakia and are citizens of Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the UK, Serbia and the United States.
Around 470 people were aboard more than 40 civilian boats when the Global Sumud Flotilla was intercepted by Israel last week.
Some members of the flotilla who have already been deported have claimed to have been mistreated while in Israeli detention.
Last Sunday, Israel deported 29 people from Israel to Spain, they are Spanish, Portuguese and Dutch. Last Saturday, it deported 137 detainees to Turkey.
Among those deported were citizens of the US, Italy, UK, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Algeria, Mauritania, Malaysia, Bahrain, Morocco, Switzerland, Tunisia, and Turkey. Last Friday, Israel deported four Italian citizens.
The first boats carrying aid for Palestinians, as well as the activists, were stopped about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast in international waters and others closer. Israel has been policing this area but does not have jurisdiction there.
Israel said that its navy told the boats to change course as they were “approaching an active combat zone and violating a lawful naval blockade”, while the Global Sumud Flotilla described the interceptions as “illegal.” The group said that Israel’s response was “not an act of defence”, but “a brazen act of desperation.”
A lawyer representing activists detained from the Global Sumud Flotilla emphasized that they have been subjected to mistreatment and denied basic rights while held in an Israeli prison.
Lubna Tuma, legal counsel with Adalah, a human rights group and legal centre, said that the detainees have been subjected to conditions that “reflect the wider system of abuse faced by Palestinian prisoners.”
Tuma said, “Numerous activists started the administrative procedure without having a legal counsel,” adding that many were kept in rooms about 3 metres (3.3 yards) wide.
She said that detainees were handcuffed “from behind for more than five hours” and denied food, water and medical care.
Tuma also said activists described being insulted and mocked, adding that women, particularly those wearing hijabs, were “treated much more harshly” and some were “prohibited from wearing the hijab or praying.”
In a statement, the Global Sumud Flotilla said, “This is not an isolated case, it exposes the same methods routinely used against Palestinians under occupation: humiliation, deprivation, and collective punishment.”
Meanwhile, international activists deported from Israel after joining an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla gave further accounts of mistreatment by guards during their detention.
Deported activists from the flotilla had earlier spoken out about the mistreatment of Thunberg, one of the highest profile members of the mission, in particular, saying she had been “dragged on the ground”, “forced to kiss the Israeli flag,” and “used as propaganda.”
Conflicting Responses To Allegations Of Mistreatment By Global Sumud Flotilla Activists
However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry and its far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir gave conflicting responses to the activists’ allegations.
The ministry insisted that the stories of ill-treatment were “brazen lies,” while Ben-Gvir said that he was “proud” of the detainees’ treatment in Ketziot prison “as supporters of terrorism.”
“Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists. If any of them thought they would come here and receive a red carpet and trumpets – they were mistaken.
“They should get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir
By contrast, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said that claims of mistreatment of Thunberg and other flotilla activists were “lies.”
The ministry said in a post on X on Sunday that all the detainees’ legal rights “are fully upheld.”
READ ALSO: Ashanti Region’s Health System Near Collapse, GMA President Warns
