Swedish climate hero Greta Thunberg and former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau were among 171 peace‑campaigners who flew back to Europe after an Israeli raid shut down a Gaza aid flotilla. The activists were sent home to Greece, Slovakia and other European states, ending a bold effort to break Israel’s blockade of the war‑torn Strip.
From late Wednesday, Israeli forces boarded 44 civilian vessels that carried a small but symbolic cargo of food, medicine and personal supplies meant for Gaza residents. The ships were stopped in international waters and the crews were taken to Israel, where the authorities said they were placed in “maximum‑security” prisons. Israeli officials insisted the detainees were treated humanely, denying any abuse.
Slain, Ada Colau said they were moved to a harsh detention centre, calling the experience “no rule of law” and saying people’s rights were ignored. “We were kept in a maximum‑security prison, with no rights,” she told reporters. Israeli officials countered that the only violence occurred when one activist bit a female medical staff member at the prison.
A lawyer who represents the flotilla, Lubna Tuma, said that of the 470 people detained last week, 150 remain at Israel’s Ktziot prison. Earlier this week, 40 of the detainees were on hunger strike, demanding that their food be sent to Gaza or that they receive medical treatment. Tuma warned that the authorities had repeatedly violated detainees’ rights, from the interception in international waters to the transfer to the prison where she alleges they faced physical violence and humiliation.
Several activists were already freed over the weekend and flown to Turkey, Spain and Italy, where they spoke of the drawn‑out detentions and “inhumane conditions.” The international group now includes citizens from Greece, Italy, France, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Germany, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia, Switzerland, Norway, the United Kingdom, Serbia, and the United States.
The flotilla’s mission was clear: bypass Israel’s blockade and bring urgent aid into Gaza, amid a conflict that has left millions of civilians in need of medical supplies and basic foodstuffs. The operation drew global attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Strip and sparked intense debate over the legality and morality of the blockade.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry posted photos of the released activists on the social‑media platform X, showing them in white T‑shirts and grey sweatpants, and reiterated that the persecution accusations were unfounded. In contrast, activists and their lawyers allege a pattern of rights violations that they say began with the initial interception.
As the 171 deported activists regroup in Europe, the Gaza aid flare‑up serves as a stark reminder of the broader Israeli‑Palestinian conflict. The movements by Greta Thunberg, Ada Colau and countless others highlight how non‑violent protests continue to drive global conversations on humanitarian aid, blockade policies and civilian rights in wartime.
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