Greta Thunberg, the renowned Swedish climate activist, was among over 70 individuals of various nationalities deported from Israel after their seizure aboard an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla. These activists, lawyers, and journalists claim they were subjected to brutal physical and verbal abuse by Israeli forces during their detention, leading to widespread international concern and a strong denial from Israeli authorities.

Reports from numerous detainees detailed a range of severe mistreatment. Activists alleged suffering from sleep and medication deprivation, beatings, and having automatic rifles pointed at their heads. They also claimed dogs were set upon them, they were forced to sleep on the floor, endured insults, and were compelled to watch footage of the Hamas attacks on Israel from October 7, 2023. Turkish activist Ersin Çelik stated that Israeli forces specifically targeted Thunberg for harsher treatment, dragging her by her hair, beating her, and forcing her to kiss the Israeli flag as a warning to others. Italian journalist Lorenzo D'Agostino corroborated this, witnessing soldiers draping an Israeli flag over Thunberg and taking selfies with her, noting she appeared 'deeply shaken' despite her strength.

Swedish foreign ministry officials, in communication with people close to Thunberg, confirmed her reports of harsh treatment, including dehydration, insufficient food and water, and rashes suspected to be caused by bedbugs. She also spoke of being forced to sit for long periods on hard surfaces. Another detainee reportedly observed Thunberg being forced to hold flags for pictures, raising concerns about the distribution of these images.

Other detainees shared equally disturbing accounts. Saverio Tommasi, an Italian journalist, described being repeatedly beaten to his back and head from the moment they entered the port, with soldiers laughing at their suffering. Spanish activist and lawyer Rafael Borrego recounted instances where fully armed officers, accompanied by dogs, entered cells, pointed weapons at their heads, and dragged detainees to the floor daily. The Australia and New Zealand branch of the Global Movement to Gaza reported that an Australian activist sustained shoulder and rib injuries from assault during interception and was later attacked in prison, denied clean water, and subjected to constant shouting by guards.

The former mayor of Barcelona, Ada Colau, added to these claims, describing a prison yard decorated with a large photograph of a bombed-out Gaza with an Arabic caption, 'Welcome to the new Gaza,' suggesting the jail was 'the prison of a fascist state.' She further stated that requests for a doctor were met with the response, 'that was for humans.'

Most of the seized activists were held at Ketziot, also known as Ansar III prison, a high-security facility in Israel's Negev desert typically used for Palestinian security prisoners. However, Sharren Haskel, Israel's deputy minister of foreign affairs, controversially asserted that Thunberg was held in a 'detention area,' not a 'prison,' and that conditions were 'quite comfortable and convenient,' dismissing allegations as 'propaganda.'

In response to the mounting accusations, the Israeli foreign ministry dismissed all claims of mistreatment as 'brazen lies,' stating that Thunberg 'did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations – because they never occurred.' The national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, expressed pride in the staff's conduct at Ketziot, suggesting activists should 'get a good feel for the conditions in Ketziot prison and think twice before they approach Israel again.'

Thunberg, 22, was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, comprising over 40 vessels and 437 activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers, aiming to breach Israel's 18-year maritime blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of famine. Israel intercepted the ships in international waters, preventing over 400 people from reaching Palestinian territory.

Following their detention, many activists were deported, primarily flown to Greece, from where they could arrange flights to their home countries. This included 28 French, 27 Greek, 15 Italian, and nine Swedish citizens, with 21 Spaniards returning directly to Spain. The release process was complicated for some Italians who initially refused to sign voluntary release forms. Several who returned home, including Saverio Tommasi and Rafael Borrego, reiterated claims of degrading treatment, physical blows, and mental abuse.

Nine Swiss nationals from the flotilla also returned home, condemning the 'inhumane detention conditions and the humiliating and degrading treatment.' The Waves of Freedom group, representing them, expressed concern for the ten Swiss nationals who remained detained, with some reportedly on hunger strike. While the Swiss Embassy noted they were in 'relatively good health given the circumstances,' Israel maintained that all detainees' legal rights were upheld, no physical force was used, and access to water, food, and restrooms was provided, contradicting the detainees' accounts of sleep deprivation, lack of provisions, and physical abuse.