8 Gaza flotilla activists under Israeli detention, refuse deportation
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While four activists left the occupied territories voluntarily, eight others refused to sign deportation papers and remain in detention.
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People wave the Palestinian flag and hold signs in support of Greta Thunberg and other activists who tried to deliver aid to Gaza before their ship was seized and they were detained by Israeli forces, near the port of Isdud, on Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP Photo)
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg was deported from “Israel” on Tuesday, a day after the Israeli navy intercepted a British-flagged boat attempting to break the naval blockade on Gaza.
The vessel, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was carrying humanitarian aid and aimed to raise awareness about the worsening crisis in the Strip.
Twelve activists aboard the Madleen boat, including Thunberg and a member of the European Parliament, were detained by Israeli occupation forces.
Four, including Thunberg, were transported to Ben Gurion Airport for deportation. According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Thunberg left the occupied territories via a connecting flight through France. The ministry shared a photo of the Swedish activist aboard the plane on social media.
Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel issued a statement barring all flotilla participants from entering “Israel,” calling the operation a threat to Israeli "sovereignty".
“Israel will not permit harm to its sovereignty by way of provocative protest flotillas at its borders,” Arbel stated.
While four activists left voluntarily, eight others refused to sign deportation papers and remain in detention. Among them is French MEP Rima Hassan, previously denied entry over her support for boycotts against the Israeli occupation. The eight are expected to appear before an Israeli tribunal to contest their removal.
Legal support for the detainees has been coordinated by Adalah, a legal organization focused on the rights of Palestinians and Arabs within the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to spokesperson Moatasem Zedan, Thunberg told lawyers she would not remain detained. “If we choose to stay here against the will of the Israeli authorities and are arrested for a few weeks, it will harm our cause,” she reportedly said.
French President Emmanuel Macron intervened on behalf of the six French citizens aboard, calling for their immediate return. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed one of the French detainees agreed to leave, while the others will face judicial proceedings.
Israeli occupation forces raided the Gaza Freedom Flotilla vessel, #Madleen, early Monday, June 9, in international waters, approximately 160 km off the coast of Gaza.
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) June 9, 2025
The following footage, captured by activists aboard the Madleen, shows the moments leading up to and during… pic.twitter.com/WDdeOAW1kr
Freedom Flotilla organizers denounce Israeli actions
The flotilla carried a small amount of aid, including rice and baby formula, which “Israel” claimed would be redirected through “real humanitarian channels.” The Foreign Ministry dismissed the mission as a “publicity stunt” and claimed the supplies had been partially consumed by the passengers themselves.
Two of the detainees, Omar Fayyad from Al Jazeera and Yanis Mhamdi from the publication Blast, were among those refusing deportation. Reporters Without Borders condemned their detention and demanded their immediate release. Al Jazeera issued a statement denouncing what it called an "incursion" by “Israel” and called for Fayyad’s release.
Trump mocks Thunberg’s ‘kidnapping’ claim amid controversy
Thunberg had earlier accused “Israel” of kidnapping her in international waters and called on her supporters to pressure the Swedish government for her release. Her pre-recorded statement circulated shortly after the navy intercepted the vessel.
US President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized Thunberg, mocked the claim. “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg,” he said. “She’s a young, angry person… I think she has to go to an anger management class.”
According to Haaretz, “Israel’s” Security Minister Israel Katz proposed screening a 43-minute video depicting the October 7, 2023, events. Katz allegedly wanted to film the activists’ reactions but was blocked by the Foreign Ministry. Ultimately, the Prime Minister’s Office decided against documenting the viewing. Katz later claimed that the activists refused to watch the footage.
Blockade and humanitarian crisis remain in spotlight
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition says its primary goal is to draw international attention to the worsening humanitarian situation in Gaza, exacerbated by months of genocide and “Israel’s” ongoing blockade. The coastal enclave, under siege since 2007, faces acute shortages of food, medicine, and basic supplies.
The ongoing Israeli blockade and bombardment of the Gaza Strip have led to a spiraling humanitarian crisis that continues to draw international condemnation.
