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Greta Thunberg deported, Israel says, after Gaza aid boat intercepted Greta Thunberg deported, Israel says, after Gaza aid boat intercepted
(about 3 hours later)
The Israeli foreign ministry said Greta Thunberg departed Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning on a flight to FranceThe Israeli foreign ministry said Greta Thunberg departed Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning on a flight to France
Israel says it has begun to deport 12 pro-Palestinian activists, including Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, whose Gaza-bound aid boat was seized by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean on Monday. Israel says it has deported Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg, a day after the Gaza-bound aid boat she and 11 other people were on was intercepted by Israeli forces in the Mediterranean.
The Israeli foreign ministry said Thunberg departed Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning on a flight to France after she agreed to be deported. Thunberg departed Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning on a flight to France after she agreed to be deported, the Israeli foreign ministry said.
But France said five of the six French activists had refused to sign their deportation orders and would now be brought before an Israeli judicial authority. France said five of the six French citizens detained alongside her had refused to sign their deportation orders and would now be subject to judicial proceedings.
Their yacht, the Madleen, was intercepted while they tried to deliver a "symbolic" amount of aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel's naval blockade to highlight the humanitarian crisis there. Their yacht, the Madleen, was intercepted while they tried to deliver a "symbolic" amount of aid to Gaza in defiance of Israel's maritime blockade and highlight the humanitarian crisis there.
The Israeli foreign ministry dismissed it as a "selfie yacht", and announced on Monday night that the activists had been transferred to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport following their arrival at the port of Ashdod on Monday night. The Israeli foreign ministry dismissed it as a "selfie yacht", and announced in a post on X on Monday night that the passengers had been transferred to Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport following the vessel's arrival at the port of Ashdod on Monday night.
"Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation," it said in a post on X. "Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation," it said.
On Tuesday morning, the ministry said Greta Thunberg had "just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)", and posted a photo of her sitting on a plane.On Tuesday morning, the ministry said Greta Thunberg had "just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)", and posted a photo of her sitting on a plane.
France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, earlier wrote on X: "Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night."France's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, earlier wrote on X: "Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night."
"One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings.""One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings."
Barrot did not identify them, but the six French citizens include MEP Rima Hassan and Al Jazeera journalist Omar Faiad. Barrot did not identify them, but the six French nationals include MEP Rima Hassan and two journalists, Omar Faiad of Qatar-based Al Jazeera and Yanis Mhamdi of online publication Blast, who Reporters Without Borders said were documenting the Madleen's journey.
As well as France and Sweden, citizens of Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey were on board the Madleen. As well as France and Sweden, citizens of Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Turkey were on board the vessel.
The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the activist group operating the yacht, said in a statement on Monday night that it expected any of the passengers who refused the deportation orders to be transferred to Ramle prison, near Tel Aviv. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), the activist group operating the yacht, confirmed in a statement on Monday night that all 12 had reached Ashdod and that it expected any who refused to be deported to be transferred to a detention facility in Ramle, near Tel Aviv.
"We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid. Their kidnapping is unlawful and a violation of international law," it added."We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid. Their kidnapping is unlawful and a violation of international law," it added.
The FFC said the Madleen was carrying baby formula, food, medicine. Israel's foreign ministry said the aid, which includes baby formula and medicine, would be transferred to Gaza "through real humanitarian channels".
The boat set sail from Italy on 1 June to raise awareness of starvation conditions in Gaza and deliver aid.
Israel says its blockade on Gaza is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas fighters there.
Watch: Moment Israeli forces board Gaza aid boatWatch: Moment Israeli forces board Gaza aid boat
On Sunday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz warned that Israel would act against any attempt to breach the blockade. The FFC said the Madleen was intercepted by the Israeli military inside international waters about 185km (115 miles) west of Gaza early on Monday.
The FFC has argued that the sea blockade is illegal, characterising Katz's statement as an example of Israel threatening the unlawful use of force against civilians and "attempting to justify that violence with smears". According to the group, the vessel was surrounded by quadcopter drones, sprayed with a "white irritant substance", and had its communications jammed.
In 2010, Israeli commandos killed 10 Turkish activists when they boarded the Turkish ship Mavi Marmara, which was leading an aid flotilla towards Gaza. Video footage released by the group showed the passengers sitting down with their hands raised as Israeli forces boarded.
Israel recently began to allow limited aid into Gaza after a three-month land blockade, prioritising distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which is backed by Israel and the US but widely condemned by humanitarian groups. It also posted a pre-recorded clip showing Thunberg saying: "If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupational forces or forces that support Israel."
In a post on X early on Monday, the Israeli foreign ministry said: "While Greta and others attempted to stage a media provocation whose sole purpose was to gain publicity – and which included less than a single truckload of aid – more than 1,200 aid trucks have entered Gaza from Israel within the past two weeks, and in addition, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation has distributed close to 11 million meals directly to civilians in Gaza. "I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."
"There are ways to deliver aid to the Gaza Strip – they do not involve Instagram selfies." The foreign ministry later said all the passengers were "safe and unharmed", and posted a video showing troops handing them food and water.
When the Madleen set sail from Italy on 1 June, the FFC said it was "carrying humanitarian aid and international human rights defenders in direct defiance of Israel's illegal and genocidal blockade".
The Israeli foreign ministry called it a "gimmick". It also insisted the blockade was "consistent with international law", and that unauthorised attempts to breach it were "dangerous, unlawful, and undermine ongoing humanitarian efforts".
On Sunday, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the maritime blockade was necessary to prevent the smuggling of weapons to Hamas.
Israel and Egypt imposed a land, sea and air blockade on Gaza when Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007 by ousting its rivals, a year after winning legislative elections.
Israel stopped all deliveries of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies to Gaza on 2 March this year and resumed its military offensive two weeks later, collapsing a two-month ceasefire with Hamas.
It said the steps were meant to put pressure on the group to release the hostages still held in Gaza, but the UN warned that Gaza's 2.1 million population were facing catastrophic levels of hunger because of the resulting shortages of food.
Three weeks ago, Israel launched an expanded offensive to take control of all areas of Gaza. It also partially eased the blockade, allowing in a "basic" amount of food.
Israel is now prioritising distribution through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which it backs along with the US. The UN and other aid groups are refusing to co-operate with the new system, saying it contravenes the humanitarian principles of neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
It is 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.It is 20 months since Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza in response to the unprecedented Hamas-led cross-border attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
At least 54,880 people have been killed in Gaza since, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry. At least 54,927 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.