Israel Deports Greta Thunberg, 170 Activists From Gaza Aid Flotillas

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was among 171 activists deported by Israel after attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza via the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to break Israel's naval blockade of the territory. The flotilla, comprising international citizens including doctors and human rights advocates, was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters and detained before deportation to Greece and Slovakia. Activists have alleged mistreatment during detention, including sleep deprivation and physical abuse, claims which Israel's foreign ministry has strongly denied, calling them "complete lies" and asserting all legal rights were upheld. Israel justified its actions citing security concerns and the need to maintain the blockade to prevent entry of sensitive materials, while critics accused Israel of using disproportionate force and hindering humanitarian aid. The incident has sparked international political and diplomatic debate over the legality of the blockade and the treatment of activists. Despite the controversy, Thunberg and others chose to prolong their detention rather than accept fast-track deportation, emphasizing the political nature of their mission.