Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg has departed Israel on a flight to France after being detained by Israeli forces alongside other activists aboard an aid ship headed to Gaza. Israel’s foreign ministry shared photos of Thunberg, 22, aboard the plane, stating she had left the country.
Thunberg, known globally for her climate activism and her long-standing opposition to air travel, had joined the crew of the Madleen, a ship attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza. The vessel, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday.
According to France’s foreign minister, six French nationals were also detained, one of whom has agreed to leave voluntarily. The others, including Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament, will be deported.
The European Parliament confirmed ongoing contact with Israeli authorities to ensure the safety of Hassan and the rest of the activists. Israel’s foreign ministry stated that individuals refusing voluntary deportation would be brought before judicial authorities.
The Madleen was intercepted in international waters and brought to the Israeli port of Ashdod. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition accused the Israeli military of attacking and unlawfully boarding the ship, which aimed to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver critical supplies.
Amnesty International condemned the interception, calling it a violation of international law. “The operation of intercepting and blocking the Madleen in international waters violates international law and endangered those aboard,” said Agnès Callamard, the organization’s secretary general.
In response, Israeli authorities maintained that their actions were legal under international law and said all vessels are being prevented from entering Gaza. Israeli officials also dismissed the mission, labeling the ship a “selfie yacht” carrying “celebrities.”
Israel imposed a full blockade on Gaza on March 2, halting food, medicine, and humanitarian supplies for over 11 weeks. While limited aid was permitted beginning in late May, humanitarian groups say it falls far short of what is needed. A UN-backed report in April warned that one in five people in Gaza face starvation.
As the humanitarian crisis deepens, dozens of Palestinians have reportedly been killed while attempting to access aid distributed by a new US-backed initiative, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. The United Nations has criticized the system, warning it has become a “death trap” for desperate civilians.
