Swedish activist Greta Thunberg received a warm welcome from pro-Palestinian supporters upon her arrival in Greece on Monday. She, along with hundreds of other activists, was deported by Israel after their attempt to provide aid to Gaza. Israel announced the expulsion of 171 activists, including Thunberg, making the total deportees 341 out of the 479 individuals detained during the interception of the flotilla aiming to break the naval blockade of Gaza.
The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed that 161 activists, including Thunberg and 27 Greek citizens, arrived in Athens on Monday. Thunberg, 22, addressed the crowd at the Athens airport, highlighting the ongoing conflict in Gaza and criticizing the international community for failing to prevent alleged war crimes against Palestinians.
Israel has dismissed the flotilla as a publicity stunt for Hamas and denied accusations of genocide in Gaza. Ottawa announced the pending release of three detained Canadians from the flotilla. Various countries, including Greece, Italy, France, and the United States, were also represented among the deported activists.
Upon their return, some members of the flotilla reported mistreatment, including sleep deprivation, lack of sustenance, and physical abuse. However, an Israeli foreign ministry spokesperson refuted these claims. Israel maintains that all detainees were provided with necessities and legal rights during their detention.
The Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv confirmed the relatively good health of Swiss nationals detained in Israel. Former Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau, who was part of the flotilla, acknowledged mistreatment but emphasized the daily challenges faced by the Palestinian people.
Spanish journalists revealed challenges faced by deported activists, alleging denial of translation services and consular assistance. Consular representatives have since visited the detainees in prison, as reported by various countries involved in the incident.