Israel deports Greta Thunberg and three others after seizing Gaza aid boat
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel on Tuesday, the country's foreign ministry said, following the Israeli military's seizure of the Gaza-bound ship she was on.
In a post on X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry shared a photo of Thunberg on a plane, saying she had departed Israel and was headed to France before continuing on to Sweden.
Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing Thunberg and the other activists, said Thunberg, two other activists and a journalist had agreed to be deported and leave Israel. Other activists refused deportation, were being held in detention, and their case was set to be heard by Israeli authorities.
The Gaza-bound aid ship, 'Madleen', was seized in international waters about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from Gaza on Monday, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the voyage.
The activist group departed Italy on June 1 carrying food and supplies for Gaza, whose entire population the UN has warned is at risk of famine.
The activists said they were protesting the ongoing war and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Israel says such ships violate its naval blockade of Gaza.
The 12 activists on board were detained by authorities and, accompanied by the Israeli navy, arrived in the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to Israel's Foreign Ministry.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organised the voyage, said the activists were 'kidnapped by Israeli forces' while trying to deliver desperately needed aid.
'I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible," Thunberg said in a prerecorded message released after the ship was halted.
Israeli officials referred to the flotilla as a publicity stunt, saying it carried what amounted to less than a truckload of aid.
'This wasn't humanitarian aid. It's Instagram activism,' Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said.
'Meanwhile, Israel has delivered over 1,200 truckloads in the last two weeks. So who's really feeding Gaza and who's really feeding their own ego? Greta was not bringing aid, she was bringing herself.'
Posting early on Tuesday, Israel's foreign ministry confirmed the activists were being processed for deportation.
"The passengers of the 'Selfie Yacht' arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries," they wrote.
"Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorise their deportation.
"Consuls from the passengers' home countries met them at the airport."
In an interview with ITV News, Greta Thunberg denied the trip was a vanity project
Speaking to ITV News before her detention, Thunberg denied her trip was a vanity project, saying they used the biggest boat they had.
"If there is anything we can do to raise awareness and stand in solidarity as well as bringing the humanitarian aid then we will do that."
Donald Trump, who has previously argued with Thunberg, told reporters at the White House: 'I think she has to go to anger management class. That's my primary recommendation for her.'
Trump described the climate activist as a 'young, angry person,' but added, 'I don't know if it's real anger.'
Israel and Egypt have imposed varying degrees of a 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.
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The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Greta Thunberg news latest: Climate campaigner breaks silence after being deported by Israel over Gaza aid boat
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has arrived in France after being deported by Israel for attempting to break the country's 18-year naval blockade of Gaza. The 22-year-old activist told reporters in France that Israel had violated international waters by intercepting the Gaza-bound, UK-flagged Madleen that she and 11 other activists had sailed from Sicily to the Egyptian coast. 'I was very clear in my testimony that we were kidnapped on international waters and brought against our own will into Israel,' she said. She laughed off criticism from Donald Trump, who had described her as an angry person, saying: 'I think the world needs a lot more young angry women to be honest, especially with everything going on right now.' At least five of the 12 activists arrested on board the Madleen flotilla are expected to be deported on Tuesday, according to Israeli broadcaster Kan. The group were picked up off the coast of Egypt earlier on Monday morning and taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod, where they were detained. They had been attempting to take a symbolic amount of aid into Gaza. Greta Thunberg accuses Israel of war crimes Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of systematic war crimes against Palestinians Speaking to reporters after arriving in Paris, the activist said: 'The real story is that there is a genocide going on in Gaza and a systematic starvation following the siege and blockade now, which is leading to food, medicine, water that are desperately needed to get into Gaza is prevented from doing so. 'But of course there are many attempts like this mission both by sea and land to break that siege and open up a humanitarian corridor.' 'This is a continued violation of international law and war crimes that Israel is systematically committing against Palestinians by not letting aid come to starving people, and mass slaughtering in every possible way,' the 22-year-old Swede said. She added: 'We were 12 peaceful volunteers sailing on a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid on international waters. We did not break laws. We did nothing wrong.' Jabed Ahmed11 June 2025 04:00 Israel commits 'extermination' in Gaza by killing in schools, UN experts say UN experts have said in a report that Israel committed the crime against humanity of "extermination" by killing civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites in Gaza, part of a "concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life." The United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel was due to present the report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council on 17 June. "We are seeing more and more indications that Israel is carrying out a concerted campaign to obliterate Palestinian life in Gaza," former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay, who chairs the commission, said in a statement. "Israel's targeting of the educational, cultural and religious life of the Palestinian people will harm the present generations and generations to come, hindering their right to self-determination," she added. The commission examined attacks on educational facilities and religious and cultural sites to assess whether international law was breached. Israel disengaged from the Human Rights Council in February, alleging it was biased. Its diplomatic mission said on Thursday that the commission's latest report was an "attempt to promote its fictitious narrative of the Gaza war", and proved that its members "care more about bashing Israel than protecting the people of Gaza." In its report, the commission said Israel had destroyed more than 90% of school and university buildings and more than half of all religious and cultural sites in Gaza. Jabed Ahmed11 June 2025 03:00 How many times have sailors tried to break Israel's naval blockade on Gaza? There have been at least eleven occasions when Israel has intercepted activists or pro-Palestinian militants attempting to break its blockade on Gaza, we can report. Israel's blockade on Gaza has been in place since late 2007. The most significant incident happened in May 2010, when a six-boat flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli navy around 90 miles from Gaza. Nine people were killed after Israeli commandos opened fire on activists, having boarded the flagship vessel, the Mavi Marmara, Israel claims the activists began attacking the soldiers first. Neither account has been confirmed. There were additional, major attempts by activists in July 2011, June 2015 and August 2018. The vessels were all boarded without incident by Israeli forces. Like the Madleen, several were taken to the Israeli port of Ashdod. Several smaller efforts were also intercepted by Israel, largely in the two years between 2009 and 2011. In March 2011, the Israelis intercepted a freighter called the Victoria in the Mediterranean with 50 tonnes of concealed weapons allegedly bound for Gaza. Last month, two drones hit another vessel destined for Gaza while it was off the coast of Malta. It was run by the same organisation that manages the Madleen, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The FFC claimed those drones were Israeli. Israel declined to comment. Jabed Ahmed11 June 2025 01:57 Who was on board the Madleen? There were a dozen activists aboard the Gaza-bound Madleen when it was intercepted by Israeli forces off the coast of Egypt on Monday morning. Below is a list of the 12 people: Greta Thunberg, a Swedish climate and social justice activist Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament representing France's far-left La France Insoumise party Omar Faiad, a French journalist with Al Jazeera who is covering the trip Yanis Mhamdi, a journalist at the French independent media outlet, Blast, also there to report on the trip Pascal Maurieras, a French activist and experienced flotilla participant Thiago Avila, a Brazilian journalist, social activist and politician who has been a vocal supporter of the Palestinian cause for almost two decades Baptiste Andre, a French physician who is expected to assist passengers or demonstrators injured in possible confrontations with Israeli forces Yasemin Acar, a German activist of Kurdish descent and part of the FCC's steering committee Reva Viard, a climate activist from France Suayb Ordu, a Turkish activist Sergio Toribio, a crew member from Spain and a member of the marine conservation NGO, Sea Shepherd Marco Van Rennes, a Dutch marine engineering student and crew member Tom Watling11 June 2025 00:58 Yemen missile launched toward Israel 'most likely' intercepted, military says The Israeli military said on Tuesday that a missile launched from Yemen toward Israel had 'most likely' been intercepted, hours after Israel deployed its navy to hit targets in the Yemeni Red Sea port of Hodeidah. Israel threatened Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi movement – which has been attacking Israel in what it says is solidarity with Gaza – with a naval and air blockade if its attacks on Israel persist. 'Additional interceptors were launched due to the possibility of falling shrapnel from the interception,' the Israeli military said in a later statement after sirens sounded in several areas. Andy Gregory10 June 2025 23:58 Watch: Israeli government criticises Greta Thunberg 'selfie yacht' Andy Gregory10 June 2025 22:57 Activists 'shielded by their passports', says Freedom Flotilla Coalition The activists on board the flotilla acknowledge that 'by virtue of their passports', they are 'shielded from the daily brutality' endured by Palestinians, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition has said. In a statement, the FCC said it 'acknowledges that by virtue of their passports of privilege, the Madleen 12 are shielded from the daily brutality and horrendous systemic torture Palestinians endure under Israeli occupation. 'According to Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association, as of June 4, 2025, there are over 10,400 Palestinians held captive in Israeli dungeons. Of those, more than 400 are children and more than 3,500 are held without trial, charge, or minimal due process.' Andy Gregory10 June 2025 21:55 Thirty six people killed near aid sites in Gaza, health officials say Palestinians desperately trying to access aid in Gaza have come under fire again, with 36 people killed and 207 injured on Tuesday, the Palestinian health ministry said. Experts and humanitarian aid workers say Israel's blockade and 20-month military campaign have pushed Gaza to the brink of famine. At least 163 people have been killed and 1,495 wounded in a number of shootings near aid sites run by the new Israeli and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. In southern Gaza, at least eight people were killed while trying to obtain aid around Rafah, according to Nasser Hospital. In northern Gaza, two men and a child were killed and at least 130 were wounded on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the al-Awda Hospital, which received the casualties. They said most were being treated for gunshot wounds. Witnesses told The Associated Press that Israeli forces opened fire at around 2am local time, several hundred yards from the aid site in central Gaza. Crowds of Palestinians seeking desperately needed food often head to the sites hours before dawn, hoping to beat the crowds. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots at people it referred to as suspects. It said they had advanced toward its troops hundreds of yards from the aid site prior to its opening hours. UK will never accept forced displacement of Gazans, vows Foreign Office minister Sir Keir Starmer's government 'will never accept the unlawful transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza', a Foreign Office minister has vowed. Hamish Falconer told the Commons: 'The situation in the West Bank cannot be seen in isolation from events in Gaza – extremist rhetoric advocating forced displacement of Palestinians, denial of essential aid. 'The creation of new Israeli settlements in the Strip is equally appalling and dangerous. This government will never accept the unlawful transfer of Gazans from or within Gaza, nor any reduction in the territory of the Gaza strip. 'The humanitarian situation remains catastrophic in Gaza. While Israel's ground and air operations expand, Gazans have now been pushed into less than 20 per cent in the territory. 'Hospitals have been destroyed and damaged. The entire population of Gaza is now at risk of famine. Meanwhile, Israel's newly-introduced measures for aid endanger civilians and foster desperation – they are inhumane.' Andy Gregory10 June 2025 19:58 Greta Thunberg accuses Israel of war crimes Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of systematic war crimes against Palestinians Speaking to reporters after arriving in Paris, the activist said: 'The real story is that there is a genocide going on in Gaza and a systematic starvation following the siege and blockade now, which is leading to food, medicine, water that are desperately needed to get into Gaza is prevented from doing so. 'But of course there are many attempts like this mission both by sea and land to break that siege and open up a humanitarian corridor.' 'This is a continued violation of international law and war crimes that Israel is systematically committing against Palestinians by not letting aid come to starving people, and mass slaughtering in every possible way,' the 22-year-old Swede said.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
Marco Rubio condemns UK sanctions on Israeli ministers
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Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Greta Thunberg touches back down in Sweden after being deported from Israel and vows to RETURN after failed 'freedom flotilla' mission
Greta Thunberg has landed back home in Sweden following her deportation from Israel, but has defiantly vowed to return after her failed aid mission. The 22-year-old activist spoke to reporters in Paris just hours after being forcibly removed from Israel alongside a group of 11 other international activists who had been on board the 'freedom flotilla'. The group had set sail towards Gaza carrying a symbolic amount of aid, before being intercepted by Israeli forces in international waters off the coast of Egypt early Monday. They were then taken to the port of Ashdod, where Thunberg was detained before being placed on a flight to France on Tuesday morning. Despite her swift deportation, Thunberg was unrepentant. The activist vowed that they 'would not stop' trying to help and promised that 'this is not the end.' Thunberg told journalists shortly after landing in Paris: 'What is certain is that we will not stop. 'We are going to continue try to do everything we can because that is the promise that we have given to to Palestinians. 'We are going to try every single day in every way that we can and keep trying to demand an end to the atrocities.' Israel's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday shared a photo of the disgruntled 22-year-old sitting on board the plane moments before the flight departed Israel's Ben Gurion airport She accused Israel of 'kidnapping' her in international waters, a claim she made previously in a dramatic pre-recorded SOS message released shortly after her detention. But a picture of her smiling as a soldier offered her sandwich after her boat was intercepted quickly went viral. Thunberg accused Israel of orchestrating a PR stunt following the action. Speaking on Tuesday, she doubled down: 'People were not being treated well. I was not able to to say goodbye to people and I don't know what's happening. And there were many, many issues'. Pressed for details on her treatment, she described the experience as 'very dehumanising,' though she insisted: 'But of course, I have to stress nothing compared to what Palestinians are going through. I would prefer not to go into detail'. She added: 'I do know that there were major issues with people actually getting to talk to lawyers. 'When you look at the state of the world, everything feels meaningless. But unless you try to do everything you can, we lose our hope.' The activist, who has long eschewed air travel for environment reasons, was photographed on board an aircraft en route to France earlier on Tuesday - a moment that Israel's Foreign Ministry was quick to publicise, posting the image on social media platform X. Prior to her deportation, Defence Minister Israel Katz said he'd instructed IDF officials to show the activists the full, unedited footage of the October 7 attacks as recorded by Hamas terrorist body cameras. 'It is appropriate that the anti-Semitic Greta and her fellow Hamas supporters see exactly who the Hamas terrorist organization they came to support and for whom they work is, what atrocities they committed against women, the elderly, and children, and against whom Israel is fighting to defend itself,' he said. Late on Monday night, he told reporters: 'Greta and her flotilla companions were taken into a room upon their arrival to the screening of the horror film of the October 7 massacre... when they saw what it was about, they refused to continue watching. 'The anti-Semitic flotilla members are turning a blind eye to the truth and have proven once again that they prefer the murderers to the murdered and continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, adults, and children.' Katz and other Israeli officials have come under fire for branding Thunberg and her fellow activists 'anti-Semitic' for wanting to deliver aid to starving Gazans. But Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer said: 'This wasn't humanitarian aid. It's Instagram activism... 'Who's really feeding Gaza and who's really feeding their own ego? Greta was not bringing aid, she was bringing herself.' Meanwhile, the French government revealed that five of the six French citizens detained alongside Thunberg had refused to sign deportation orders, meaning they will now face judicial proceedings. US President Donald Trump did not miss the opportunity to wade in on the controversy. 'I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg. She's a young, angry person... I think she has to go to an anger management class,' he said. Thunberg responded to his comments, saying: 'I think the world needs a lot of more young, angry women, to be honest, especially with everything going on right now'. After a brief stop in France, Thunberg landed back home at Stockholm's Arlanda airport just after 10:30pm Tuesday. She was greeted by around 30 cheering supporters waving Palestinian flags amid a large media presence at the airport. Asked in Stockholm if she was scared when the security forces boarded the Madleen sailboat, Thunberg replied: 'What I'm afraid of is that people are silent during an ongoing genocide'. 'What I feel most is concern for the continued violations of international law and war crimes that Israel is guilty of,' Thunberg told reporters. She accused Israel of carrying out a 'systematic genocide' and 'systematic starvation of over two million people' in Gaza. Several rights groups including Amnesty International have accused Israel of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza but Israel vehemently rejects the term. 'We must act, we must demand that our government acts, and we must act ourselves when our complicit governments do not step up,' Thunberg said. She rose to fame as a schoolgirl activist against climate change and seeks to avoid flying because of its environmental impact, going so far as to cross the Atlantic by sailboat twice. She appeared confused about reporters' questions about how it felt to travel by plane, replying, 'Why are you asking about that?' Of the 12 people on board the Madleen carrying food and supplies for Gaza, eight were taken into custody after they refused to leave Israel voluntarily. Four others, including Thunberg, were deported. All of them have been banned from Israel for 100 years, according to the rights group that legally represents some of them.
