Greta Thunberg said she was hit and kicked by Israeli guards after being detained earlier this month. The 22-year-old climate activist said she was part of a Gaza aid flotilla and claimed that the guards treated her and others in cruel ways. She said they were denied water and humiliated while being held.
Thunberg said she joined a fleet of over 40 ships carrying humanitarian supplies to Gaza in early October. The Israeli Navy stopped the flotilla, saying it violated their blockade. She and other passengers, including Mandla Mandela and several European politicians, were taken into custody.
She told a Swedish newspaper that the conditions were extreme and that she saw people being restrained on the ground. She said: “They dragged me to the opposite side from where the others were sitting. They hit and kicked me. There’s a lot I don’t remember; you’re in shock, you’re in pain, but you try to stay calm.”
Greta said the guards wrote slurs and drew crude symbols on her suitcase, including a Star of David. She said they mocked her while drinking water and ignored her when she begged for some in the 40 degree heat.
Israeli officials called her story false. A spokesperson said in a statement that all her legal rights were respected and that she was treated according to international law. They also said she chose not to speed up her deportation and never made any official complaint. The ministry said the accusations were “ludicrous and baseless” and that she was safely deported on October 6.
Thunberg said the detainees were kept in metal cages and forced to stand through the night. She said: “When people fainted, we banged on the cages and asked for a doctor. The guards came and said: ‘We’re going to gas you.’ They held up a gas cylinder and threatened to press it against us.” She said the guards also disrupted their sleep by shaking the bars and shining flashlights at them.
The flotilla carried more than 500 activists and humanitarian aid. The Israeli Navy said they gave multiple radio warnings before stopping the ships, telling them they were entering an active war zone. When they kept going, Israeli forces boarded and detained everyone. Thunberg and the other activists were later deported.
The event has caused strong reactions around the world. Supporters of Thunberg say she is brave for speaking out, while others say she is spreading false claims about Israel.
