Greta Thunberg, the Swedish activist, received a warm welcome from pro-Palestinian supporters in Greece on Monday after she and numerous activists were deported by Israel for their involvement in a mission to provide aid to Gaza. Israel confirmed the expulsion of 171 activists, including Thunberg, making the total number of deportees reach 341 out of the 479 individuals detained during the interception of the flotilla aimed at breaking the naval blockade of Gaza.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry, 161 activists, including Thunberg and 27 Greek nationals, arrived in Athens on Monday, representing nearly 20 different countries. Thunberg, 22, addressed the crowd at the Athens airport, stating, “There is a genocide happening,” referring to the Israeli military actions in Gaza. She criticized the international systems for failing to protect Palestinians from war crimes and highlighted the Global Sumud flotilla’s purpose to fill the gap left by governmental inaction.
Israel, denying allegations of genocide and food shortages in Gaza, dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt supporting Hamas. Ottawa announced the impending release of three Canadian citizens detained on a flotilla vessel. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed that Canada is assisting the detained Canadians and ensuring their release.
The deported activists included individuals from various countries such as Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, and several others, as disclosed by the Israeli foreign ministry. Some of the activists reported mistreatment upon their return to their respective countries, alleging instances of sleep deprivation, food and water deprivation, physical abuse, and confinement in cages.
Israel refuted these claims, labeling them as falsehoods and emphasizing that detainees were provided with basic necessities and legal rights. Despite the conflicting narratives, consular assistance has been offered to the activists by their respective countries, ensuring their well-being and legal rights are upheld.
The situation surrounding the deportation of activists from the flotilla has sparked international attention and raised concerns about the treatment of detainees and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
