Greta Thunberg Detained in Israel Faces Allegations of Mistreatment

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, 22, has reportedly experienced harsh treatment during her detention in Israel following her participation in a flotilla aimed at delivering aid to Gaza. The Global Sumud flotilla, which consisted of over 40 vessels, embarked on this mission to breach Israel’s 16-year blockade of Gaza. On July 6, 2023, Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla and detained all crew members, including Thunberg.

An email from Sweden’s foreign ministry, shared with individuals close to Thunberg, outlined allegations of poor conditions during her custody. A Swedish embassy official visited her and reported that Thunberg described being held in a cell infested with bedbugs, receiving inadequate food and water, and being forced to sit for extended periods on hard surfaces. The email highlighted her concerns about dehydration and skin rashes, which she attributed to the bedbug bites.

The embassy communication stated, “The embassy has been able to meet with Greta. She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food.” Furthermore, it was reported that another detainee indicated they had witnessed Thunberg being compelled to hold flags while photographs were taken, raising concerns about the treatment she received.

The claims of mistreatment were corroborated by other members of the flotilla. Ersin Çelik, a Turkish activist, alleged that Thunberg was subjected to physical abuse, stating, “They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag.” This account was echoed by journalist Lorenzo D’Agostino, who described a disturbing scene where Thunberg was “wrapped in the Israeli flag and paraded like a trophy” upon her detention.

Israeli authorities detained Thunberg and approximately 437 others, including activists and parliamentarians, transporting them to a high-security facility in the Negev desert known as Ketziot Prison. Previous flotilla incidents have typically resulted in detainees being treated as immigration violators rather than facing criminal prosecution. However, the legal organization Adalah reported that the rights of crew members were “systematically violated,” with denials of adequate food, water, sanitation, and legal access, contravening their fundamental rights.

The legal team for the flotilla noted that some detainees were left without food or water for hours, with only a packet of crisps provided to Thunberg and photographed for publicity. Allegations of verbal and physical abuse were also cited by the team.

Israel’s far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, further inflamed tensions by referring to the activists as “terrorists” during a public appearance at the detention site. He expressed pride in the treatment of the flotilla participants, asserting, “Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the same conditions applied to terrorists.”

Concerns regarding the treatment of detainees were heightened, particularly for those with records of prior arrests during similar missions. Baptiste André, a French doctor who participated in the flotilla, reported that Israeli border agents subjected passengers, including Thunberg, to mocking and sleep deprivation.

According to the foreign ministry’s email, Israeli authorities requested Thunberg to sign a document, which she refrained from doing due to confusion about its implications. The email confirmed she had access to legal counsel, and the Swedish embassy maintained communication with Israeli authorities to ensure swift processing of the detainees and their return to Sweden.

The Swedish foreign ministry stated that embassy officials had visited nine detained Swedes, emphasizing the need for immediate access to food, clean water, and legal representation.

In response to the allegations, the Israeli embassy dismissed the claims as “complete lies,” asserting that all detainees had access to necessary provisions and legal rights. The embassy reiterated that Israel is governed by the rule of law and committed to upholding individual rights in accordance with international standards.

As of now, it remains unclear whether Thunberg is still being held. The international community continues to monitor the situation closely, raising questions about the treatment of activists in custody and the implications of such incidents for humanitarian efforts in the region.