Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, along with hundreds of international campaigners, has found herself at the center of a global controversy following her detention by Israeli authorities after participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla—a coalition of over 40 boats aiming to deliver symbolic humanitarian aid to Gaza. The flotilla, intercepted by the Israeli navy on October 3 and 4, 2025, was the latest high-profile attempt to challenge Israel’s 16-year blockade of the war-torn enclave, and what happened next has sparked a fierce debate over the treatment of activists in custody, the boundaries of protest, and the conduct of Israeli officials.
According to reports from The Guardian and Associated Press, Thunberg and more than 450 other activists—including Nelson Mandela’s grandson, Mandla Mandela, and several European lawmakers—were detained after Israeli forces intercepted all 42 boats in the flotilla. The activists, hailing from over a dozen countries, were seeking to deliver aid in direct defiance of what they described as an unjust blockade, while Israeli officials labeled the mission a “Hamas-Sumud provocation.”
Allegations of mistreatment surfaced almost immediately. Thunberg herself informed Swedish authorities that she had been held in a bedbug-infested cell, with limited access to food and water, and developed rashes likely due to the conditions. An email from the Swedish Foreign Ministry, cited by The Guardian, confirmed that a diplomat who visited Thunberg in custody reported her complaints of dehydration, skin rashes, and being forced to sit for long hours on hard surfaces. Thunberg also described being made to hold flags during staged photos and wondered if images of her had been distributed for propaganda purposes.
Eyewitness accounts from fellow detainees painted an even grimmer picture. Turkish activist Ersin Çelik, who was aboard the same flotilla, told Anadolu Agency, “They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her as a warning to others.” Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi, among those later released, said, “They treated us like monkeys. We saw Greta Thunberg at the port with her arms tied and an Israeli flag next to her as mockery.” Another detainee, Lorenzo D’Agostino, described being woken repeatedly at night, threatened with dogs and laser sights, and forced to remain on their knees for hours. “They forced us to stay on our knees for four hours,” he recalled.
The accounts did not stop there. Two activists, Hazwani Helmi from Malaysia and Windfield Beaver from the United States, told Reuters that they witnessed Thunberg being shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag. “It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,” Helmi said, adding that detainees were not provided with clean food or water and that medications and personal belongings were confiscated. Beaver echoed these sentiments, saying Thunberg was “treated terribly” and “used as propaganda.”
Adalah, an Israeli legal aid group, reported that some detainees were denied access to lawyers, water, medications, and toilets, and forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours after some participants chanted “Free Palestine.” Lawyers representing the flotilla said that detainees were left for hours without food or water, except for “a packet of crisps handed to Greta and shown to the cameras.” Instances of verbal and physical abuse were also reported, with French doctor Baptiste Andre recounting that Israeli agents had mocked and deliberately deprived passengers of sleep, singling out Thunberg.
In response, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has categorically denied all allegations of abuse. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), the ministry called the claims “brazen lies,” asserting, “All detainees’ rights were fully upheld. Greta Thunberg never complained about these ludicrous and baseless claims—because they never occurred.” The ministry also noted that Thunberg and other detainees refused expedited deportation, opting to remain in custody longer—an assertion supported by official records from the Population and Migration Tribunal, which showed Thunberg requested to return to Sweden and asked to provide medications to other detainees but made no complaints about her own treatment.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right figure in the Israeli government, publicly praised the prison staff for their handling of the detainees, stating, “Anyone who supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists.” During a visit to Ashdod port, he was filmed referring to the activists as “terrorists” and has previously advocated for jailing rather than deporting flotilla participants. Ben-Gvir’s remarks have drawn sharp criticism from governments and human rights advocates, who see them as an endorsement of inhumane treatment and intimidation.
The aftermath of the flotilla’s interception has reverberated far beyond Israel and Gaza. By October 5, at least 137 activists from 13 countries had been deported, arriving in cities such as Istanbul and Rome, while others remained in custody. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed that 26 Italians were on the deportation flight, with another 15 still held in Israel. Italian lawmakers who participated in the mission described being “brutally stopped” and “brutally taken hostage.” Greece, whose 27 nationals were among those detained, issued a formal protest over what it called the “unacceptable behavior” of Israel’s minister, and the arrests drew condemnation from Turkey, Colombia, and Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Israel maintained that the flotilla was a deliberate provocation and that its naval blockade is a lawful measure in the context of ongoing conflict with Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007. Israeli officials accused some flotilla members of deliberately obstructing the deportation process, though these claims could not be independently verified, according to Reuters.
The controversy erupted at a sensitive moment, coinciding with a renewed push for a Gaza ceasefire by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has called on Israel to halt bombing and begin negotiations. Both Israel and Hamas have indicated partial acceptance of the proposal, with talks expected in Cairo the following week.
Public reaction has been swift and passionate. Demonstrations demanding the release of the activists and accountability for alleged mistreatment broke out in cities from Rome to Buenos Aires on October 5, with protestors holding up images of Thunberg and other detainees. The story has reignited debates about the rights of activists, the responsibilities of governments, and the perennial question: does international attention make a difference?
As the dust settles, the episode stands as a stark reminder of the risks activists face and the complex interplay of protest, politics, and power on the world stage.
