Israel deports Greta Thunberg and 170 different Gaza flotilla activists

[ad_1] Israel has deported Swedish local weather campaigner Greta Thunberg and 170 different pro-Palestinian activists who had been detained when Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla attempting to breach its naval blockade of Gaza to ship support final week.

Thunberg raised her fist as she was introduced with flowers and cheered by dozens of supporters who had gathered at Athens airport.

The Israeli international minister stated the activists had been flown to Greece and Slovakia, and that Greek, Slovakian, French, Italian, British and US residents had been amongst them.

It additionally as soon as once more rejected as "pretend information" accusations that the activists had been mistreated and denied primary rights whereas in detention.

To date, the ministry has introduced the deportations of 341 of the 479 individuals who had been on board the 42 boats within the World Sumud Flotilla (GSF).

The 138 different activists stay in detention in Israel. Greater than 40 had been confirmed to be on starvation strike on Sunday, in line with the GSF.

It stated the objective of the flotilla was to "break the unlawful siege on Gaza by sea, open a humanitarian hall, and finish the continued genocide of the Palestinian folks".

It additionally stated the interceptions violated worldwide maritime and humanitarian legislation.

Israeli authorities stated they enforced a authorized blockade and known as the flotilla a "publicity stunt" as a result of it was transporting solely two tons of support in whole.

Greece's international ministry stated Thunberg was amongst 161 residents of 16 European nations who had been flown to Athens on Monday after being deported by Israel. Slovakia stated it had acquired 10 different folks on a separate flight.

On arrival in Athens, the Swedish activist advised reporters that the GSF had been "the largest ever try to interrupt Israel's unlawful and inhumane siege by sea".

"It was a narrative of world, worldwide solidarity, of individuals stepping up when our governments failed to take action, of individuals saying that: 'My so-called leaders - who had been presupposed to symbolize me, who proceed to gas a genocide, dying and destruction - they don't symbolize me. This can be a final resort. That this mission has to exist is a disgrace."

"I may speak for a really, very very long time about our mistreatment and abuses in our imprisonment, belief me, however that isn't the story," she added.

On Sunday evening, lawyer Rafael Borrego was amongst a gaggle of deported Spanish activists who advised reporters at Madrid airport that they'd suffered "repeated bodily and psychological abuse".

"They beat us, dragged us alongside the bottom, blindfolded us, tied our palms and ft, put us in cages and insulted us," he alleged.

9 Swiss nationals who returned to Geneva on Sunday additionally complained about what they known as the "inhumane detention circumstances and the humiliating and degrading therapy", Reuters information company cited an announcement as saying.

The Israeli international ministry's assertion on Monday insisted that the flotilla activists' authorized rights "had been and can proceed to be totally upheld".

"The lies they're spreading are a part of their pre-planned pretend information marketing campaign," it stated.

The ministry stated the one violent incident occurred when a Spanish citizen bit a feminine medical employee at Ketziot jail following a routine medical examination forward of her deportation on Monday. The medic sustained minor accidents, it added.

The GSF's boats set sail from Barcelona on the finish of final month after specialists from the UN-backed Built-in Meals Safety Part Classification (IPC) confirmed there was a famine in Gaza Metropolis, and warned that it may unfold to central and southern Gaza inside weeks.

Gaza's Hamas-run well being ministry has stated at the very least 460 Palestinians have died from the consequences of malnutrition for the reason that begin of the battle, together with 182 for the reason that famine declaration.

The UN has known as on Israel to urgently carry the blockade on Gaza and permit the entry of life-saving materials by all means potential.

It has stated that because the occupying energy, Israel is obliged underneath worldwide legislation to make sure adequate meals and medical provides attain Gaza's inhabitants.

Israel has insisted it acts in accordance with worldwide legislation and facilitates the entry of support.

It has additionally disputed the IPC's findings and the well being ministry's figures, and strongly denied the allegation - most not too long ago made by a UN fee of inquiry - that its forces have dedicated genocide in opposition to Palestinians in Gaza.

The Israeli army launched a marketing campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led assault on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which about 1,200 folks had been killed and 251 others had been taken hostage.