Greta Thunberg Deported from Israel After Aid Boat Interception

Greta Thunberg was deported by Israel after the aid boat she was on was intercepted while attempting to deliver supplies to Gaza. Thunberg accused Israel of illegal actions, while the Israeli government maintains the blockade is lawful. Other activists remain detained, and the international community is calling for their release.

Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel just one day after Israeli forces intercepted a Gaza-bound aid boat she was on, along with 11 other activists. The Swedish climate campaigner flew to France from Tel Aviv on Tuesday, consenting to her deportation as confirmed by the Israeli foreign ministry. Upon arrival in Paris, Thunberg criticized Israel's actions, claiming they amounted to an illegal kidnapping while the activists were in international waters.

The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that five of the six detained French citizens, including a Member of European Parliament and journalists, had chosen to contest their deportation. The group known as the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which operated the yacht named The Madleen, demanded the immediate release of all detained volunteers, asserting that the interception was a violation of international law.

The activists were attempting to deliver a "symbolic" aid shipment to Gaza, highlighting the humanitarian difficulties faced by its residents due to the Israeli blockade. The Israeli foreign ministry responded by downplaying the mission as merely a publicity stunt and stated that the aid would be processed via legitimate channels.

Thunberg described her experience of being transferred to Israel against her will, asserting, “The real story is that there is a genocide going on in Gaza.” The Israeli government maintains that the blockade adheres to international law, stating attempts to breach it pose risks to humanitarian efforts.

Concerns remain for the other activists still detained. Thunberg expressed anxiety for their well-being, having been unable to say goodbye prior to her deportation. The FFC's statement called for the return of the aid that was seized during the interception and labeled Israel’s actions a breach of legal codes.

The Madleen was reportedly stopped in international waters approximately 115 miles from Gaza, with claims that Israeli forces surrounded it and utilized drones during the interception. This incident draws attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by continuous military actions and a blockade that has resulted in severe shortages of essential supplies.