Greta Thunberg Was Tortured by Israeli Forces, Witnesses Say

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Final week, Greta Thunberg and 436 different activists, attorneys, and parliamentarians have been arrested and detained by Israeli officers. Crusing because the Global Sumud Flotilla , a coalition of 42 vessels making an attempt to ship humanitarian assist to Gaza within the midst of a 16-year naval blockade by Israel and Egypt and what a growing body of institutions and experts calls a genocide by Israel, individuals from 44 totally different international locations had departed from Europe late August. Since their arrest, over 100 flotilla crew members have been deported, and several other have testified to brutal mistreatment , particularly of Thunberg.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc61o-0KwxQ[/embed]

Detainees have described threats to their lives and beatings and claimed they have been denied entry to meals, water, sleep, and medicine. “At any time that any of us referred to as a police officer, we risked that seven or extra totally armed folks entered to our cell, as they did on mine, pointing us with weapons at our heads, with canines able to assault us, and being dragged to the ground,” one Spanish activist told Reuters . An Australian delegate reportedly notified his country’s officials that he was slapped to the bottom and his arm was dislocated. Attorneys from the Israeli human-rights group Adalah stated that crew members’ rights have been “systematically violated … in clear breach of their basic rights to due course of, neutral trial, and authorized illustration.”

Thunberg, who had already been captured, detained, then deported from Israel for her participation in the same assist flotilla in June, was allegedly focused by officers. The Turkish journalist Ersin Celik told native news outlets that Israeli forces “dragged little Greta by her hair earlier than our eyes, beat her, and compelled her to kiss the Israeli flag.” He added, “They publicly humiliated her and focused her particularly as a result of she’s a well known determine.” The Italian journalist Lorenzo Agostino supplied the same account, saying Thunberg was “wrapped in an Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy.” One American citizen who was additionally detained, Windfield Beaver, stated Thunberg was “handled terribly” and “used as propaganda,” per Al Jazeera .

In keeping with an electronic mail despatched by the Swedish Overseas Ministry to Thunberg’s household and buddies that was reviewed by the Guardian , Thunberg described “dehydration,” “inadequate quantities of each water and meals,” and “rashes which she suspects have been attributable to bedbugs” to a Swedish official who visited her. “One other detainee reportedly advised one other embassy that they'd seen [Thunberg] being compelled to carry flags whereas photos have been taken,” the official added. “She puzzled whether or not photographs of her had been distributed.”

Far-right Israeli nationwide safety minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stood by the therapy of the imprisoned activists. “I used to be proud that we deal with the ‘flotilla activists’ as supporters of terrorism,” he stated in a press release. “Anybody who helps terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the circumstances of terrorists. If any of them thought they'd come right here and obtain a purple carpet and trumpets — they have been mistaken.” The Israel Overseas Ministry denied that any abuses had occurred, telling reporters, “All detainees from the Hamas-Sumud provocation got entry to water, meals, and bathrooms; they weren't denied entry to authorized counsel, and all their authorized rights, together with entry to medical care, have been totally upheld.”

Demonstrations in a number of main cities erupted final week to protest Israel’s interception of the International Sumud Flotilla, most of which was stopped about 70 miles from Israel’s shore. ( U.N . legal guidelines stipulate {that a} nation’s territory doesn't prolong past 12 nautical miles from its shores; the U.S. doesn't comply with this conference.)

Thunberg was deported to Greece, the place she was greeted by cheering supporters on the airport Monday. During a press conference there at this time, she declined to elaborate upon her personal therapy in jail: “That isn't the story,” she stated. “Israel is escalating genocide and mass destruction with genocidal intent, making an attempt to erase a whole inhabitants in entrance of our eyes.” Many flotilla members nonetheless stay imprisoned in Israel, including 21 Americans .

Greta Thunberg shares a video detailing the circumstances wherein Israel is holding Palestinian adults & youngsters, following her launch. pic.twitter.com/E2krC05U0H

— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 6, 2025

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