JERUSALEM—In a dramatic turn of events, Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg found herself deported from Israel on Tuesday, mere hours after the Israeli navy intercepted her and a cadre of pro-Palestinian activists attempting to reach Gaza via sea.
Their modest aid vessel, aiming to breach a long-standing naval blockade, was commandeered by Israeli forces, leading to the arrest of the entire 12-member crew and their subsequent transport to Israel.
While four members, including Thunberg, opted for immediate deportation, the remaining eight have contested their expulsion and are currently detained near Tel Aviv airport, awaiting a judicial review of their situation.
Notable among those resisting deportation is Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament.
“We were 12 peaceful volunteers aboard a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid in international waters. We did not break any laws. We did nothing wrong,” Thunberg asserted upon her arrival in Paris, leveling accusations of abduction against Israel.
“There is a continuous violation of international law and systematic war crimes being committed by Israel against Palestinians by obstructing aid from reaching starving populations,” the 22-year-old activist asserted.
Israel maintains that its stringent land, air, and sea blockade is essential to prevent arms from reaching Hamas militants. While some food supplies are permitted, they are primarily distributed through a private organization supported by Israel.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed the Gaza-bound mission as a mere publicity stunt favoring Hamas, with Foreign Minister Gideon Saar labeling it a “ridiculous gimmick.”
‘Angry Women’
Saar further noted that the limited supplies onboard the UK-registered yacht would be delivered to Gaza through “legitimate humanitarian channels.”
Thunberg, however, defended the initiative organized by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, revealing that a larger vessel meant to carry more aid had been disabled last month by drones allegedly operated by Israel.
In a light-hearted retort to criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who branded her an “angry person,” Thunberg quipped, “I think the world needs a lot more young angry women to be honest, especially with everything going on right now.”
As for her next steps, Thunberg mentioned the possibility of returning to Sweden, emphasizing her preference for train travel over flying due to the latter’s significant carbon footprint. Notably, she crossed the Atlantic by boat in 2019 to attend a climate summit.
Since Hamas seized control of Gaza in 2007, Israel has upheld a naval blockade, which was tightened following a Hamas-led assault in October 2023 that resulted in over 1,200 Israeli fatalities and 251 hostages, according to Israeli reports.
The retaliatory actions by Israel have led to nearly 55,000 Palestinian deaths, as reported by Gaza health officials, leaving much of the region in devastation.
In March, Israel intensified its blockade, restricting all supplies to Gaza, a move that experts warn has pushed the territory’s over two million residents to the brink of famine.
In recent weeks, Israel has permitted limited food aid, primarily managed by a newly established Israeli-backed group, asserting that this is crucial to prevent Hamas from misappropriating assistance. Hamas, however, has denied these allegations.
By Crispian Balmer and Alexander Cornwell
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