The Global Sumud Flotilla announced that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg would be deported to Greece. A social media post stated, “Greta Thunberg set to be released tomorrow. To arrive in Greece.” Thunberg is among over 70 individuals of various nationalities scheduled to leave Israel on Monday after being detained aboard the flotilla. Most will fly to Greece to connect to flights home. The group includes 28 French citizens, 27 Greeks, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes. Twenty-one Spaniards previously returned to Spain from Israel. The release leaves several foreigners in Israeli custody, including 28 Spanish nationals. All had been on the 42-ship Global Sumud Flotilla, which carried activists and politicians seeking to challenge an Israeli blockade on Gaza intended to block Hamas from importing weapons. The flotilla claimed to transport symbolic humanitarian aid for Gaza, where the United Nations reports famine, a claim Israel denies. Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla last week, detaining over 400 people, including Thunberg, at Ketziot prison in the Negev desert. Israel’s foreign ministry dismissed allegations of mistreatment as “brazen lies,” asserting detainees’ legal rights were upheld. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised the treatment of detainees, stating they should “get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison” and reconsider future actions near Israel.
