Israeli authorities have escalated the deportation of activists detained last week during the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a maritime mission attempting to breach Israel’s naval blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.
Among the 341 activists deported to date is high-profile Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, who was flown to Athens alongside 160 other European nationals on Monday. The deportations, which have also sent citizens to Slovakia, include nationals from Greece, France, Italy, Britain, and the United States. A total of 479 individuals were initially detained across the 42 boats comprising the flotilla.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed the deportations but firmly rejected allegations of abuse and mistreatment made by the activists, characterizing the claims as “pre-planned fake news.”
BREAKING: 171 Global Sumud Flotilla participants, including Greta Thunberg, have been deported to Greece and Slovakia. These heroes stood for Gaza — and the world is watching pic.twitter.com/lzMrHLEIWY
— Global Sumud Flotilla Commentary (@Globalsumudf) October 6, 2025
Flotilla’s Goal vs. Israeli Justification
The Global Sumud Flotilla stated its objective was to “break the illegal siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian corridor, and end the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.” GSF organizers maintain the interception violated international maritime and humanitarian law.
Israeli authorities, in contrast, labeled the mission a “publicity stunt,” citing that the flotilla was carrying a total of only two tons of aid. Israel maintains that its naval blockade is legal and that it works to facilitate aid entry into Gaza through established land routes, denying accusations of genocide and disputing reported casualty figures from the Hamas-run health ministry.
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Allegations of Abuse and Detention Conditions
Upon arrival in Athens, Ms. Thunberg stated that the flotilla was “the biggest ever attempt to break Israel’s illegal and inhumane siege by sea,” and commented on her detention experience, adding, “I could talk for a very, very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment, trust me, but that is not the story.”
More explicit allegations were raised by other deportees. A group of Spanish activists returning to Madrid reported suffering “repeated physical and mental abuse,” including being beaten, dragged, blindfolded, tied, and put in cages. Similarly, Swiss nationals released in Geneva complained of “inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry countered these allegations by asserting that the activists’ legal rights “were and will continue to be fully upheld.” The Ministry added that the only incident of violence involved a Spanish deportee who allegedly bit a female medical worker during a routine examination at Ketziot prison, resulting in minor injuries to the medic.
Remaining Activists and Humanitarian Context
Approximately 138 activists remain in detention in Israel. According to the GSF, more than 40 of these detainees were confirmed to be on a hunger strike as of Sunday.
The flotilla’s departure from Barcelona was prompted by the dire humanitarian situation, following confirmation by the UN-backed IPC that famine conditions exist in Gaza City, with warnings that the crisis could spread further. The UN has repeatedly called on Israel to urgently lift the blockade and ensure sufficient food and medical supplies reach the civilian population, citing international legal obligations as the occupying power.
Israeli military operations in Gaza began in response to the Hamas-led attacks of October 7, 2023. According to Gaza’s health ministry, Israeli attacks have resulted in at least 67,160 deaths since that date.
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