Greta Thunberg Alleges Inhumane Treatment in Israeli Detention

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has publicly detailed severe allegations of mistreatment during her recent detention by Israel. Speaking at a press conference in Stockholm, Thunberg stated that she and fellow activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla were subjected to physical torture and denied basic necessities.

Thunberg claimed that detainees had no access to clean drinking water, leading to illness. She alleged that Israeli officials deliberately discarded bottles of water in front of them and mocked their requests. When the activists demanded a doctor and essential medicine, the situation escalated dramatically. "They put 60 people in small cages and told us they would kill us with gas," Thunberg recounted, describing a climate of fear and intimidation during their custody.

The Swedish activist also directed strong criticism towards her own government's response. She informed Swedish consular officials about the conditions and expressed fear of retaliation once they left. "I told them, 'Once you’re gone, they’ll beat us,'" Thunberg said. Despite these warnings, she stated the officials departed, leaving the detainees feeling abandoned and unprotected by their home country.

The allegations stem from the Israeli military's interception of the humanitarian aid flotilla bound for the Gaza Strip last week. The flotilla, which included activists from over 50 countries, was attempting to challenge the long-standing Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave. Israel has maintained this strict blockade on Gaza for nearly 18 years, a policy that has drawn widespread international criticism and is a central point of contention in the ongoing conflict.