Greta Thunberg deported from Israel after Gaza-bound aid ship seized
Human rights activist Greta Thunberghas been deported from Israel after being detained by Israeli forces alongside other activists aboard an aid ship bound for Gaza.
Thunberg, 22, and other activists who were aboard the British-flagged ship, called the Madleen, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces were taken to a Tel Aviv airport for deportation, Israel said on Tuesday.
"Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)," Israel's foreign ministry wrote in a post on X alongside two photos of the young activist aboard a plane.
The Madleen is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which aims to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and advocate for Palestinian sovereignty.
Thunberg along with 11 other activists - including German, Dutch, Brazilian, Turkish and Spanish citizens - had set out to protest against Israel's ongoing military campaign in the Gaza Strip and its restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, both of which have put the territory of some two million Palestinians at risk of famine.
The Madleen departed Italy on June 1 carrying a symbolic amount of food and supplies for Gaza.
Israeli forces intercepted the boat in international waters on Monday morning and towed it to the port of Ashdod.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said the activists were "kidnapped by Israeli forces" while trying to deliver desperately needed aid to the territory. It said the ship was seized in international waters some 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Gaza.
On arrival to Ashdod, the activists were taken to a room to be shown a screening of the "horror film documenting the October 7 massacre" carried out by Hamas, according to Israeli defence minister Israel Katz.
On Tuesday, Israel said the passengers had arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to return to their home countries.
"The passengers of the 'Selfie Yacht' arrived at Ben Gurion airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries," the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement posted on X.
"Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority."
Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of blockade on Gaza since Hamas seized power from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Israel says the blockade is needed to prevent Hamas from importing arms, while critics say it amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's Palestinian population.
Israel sealed Gaza off from all aid in the early days of the war ignited by the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, but later relented under US pressure.
In early March, shortly before Israel ended a ceasefire with Hamas, the country again blocked all imports, including food, fuel and medicine.
Hamas-led militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the October 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages, more than half of whom have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas is still holding 55 hostages, more than half of them believed to be dead.
Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which has said women and children make up most of the dead. It does not say whether those killed are civilians or combatants.
The war has destroyed vast areas of Gaza and displaced around 90 per cent of the territory's population, leaving people there almost completely dependent on international aid. Efforts to broker another truce have been deadlocked for months.
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