STOCKHOLM: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has spoken publicly for the first time about her alleged mistreatment while in Israeli custody following her participation in the Freedom Flotilla, which attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza earlier this month.
The flotilla — comprising more than 40 vessels and 400 passengers including activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers — was intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters. Israeli authorities said the operation was carried out to prevent unauthorized entry into Gaza, which remains under blockade.
Thunberg told Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet that she and other detainees were subjected to physical violence, verbal harassment, and humiliation while being held in a high-security facility. “The guards have no empathy or humanity. They dragged me away, tied my hands with cable ties, hit and kicked me, and kept taking selfies with me,” she alleged.
She added that detainees were threatened with being “gassed” and that her personal belongings were returned defaced with obscene drawings and insults. Thunberg said she preferred not to go into full detail, emphasizing that attention should remain on “Palestinians suffering under blockade and famine, not on me.”
Other flotilla members, including Italian journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino, corroborated claims of harsh treatment, saying Thunberg was “wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy.”
In response, the Israeli embassy denied the allegations, calling them “false and politically motivated.” It stated that all detainees “were given food, water, and access to legal counsel and medical care” and that “their rights were fully respected.”
Thunberg, who has previously joined international protest actions related to the Gaza conflict, was released after several days. This was her second arrest in connection with pro-Palestinian flotilla missions this year.
