ASHDOD, Israel – Israeli forces intercepted the “Global Sumud Flotilla” in international waters on October 1, 2025, detaining climate activist Greta Thunberg and over 450 other activists aboard aid ships attempting to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.
The incident has escalated into a major international dispute, with detainees leveling serious allegations of physical and psychological abuse during their custody at Ashdod Port. Thunberg and fellow activists have reported being subjected to physical abuse, humiliation, deliberate dehydration, bedbug infestations, and inadequate food.
In a particularly stark account shared on social media, the account Pop Base quoted a fellow activist alleging, “They dragged little Greta by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others.”
Israeli authorities have firmly denied all allegations, dismissing them as “lies.”
By October 4, the majority of the detained activists had accepted deportation agreements. However, Greta Thunberg has refused to be deported and is reportedly preparing to legally challenge the legality of the Israeli blockade on Gaza, setting the stage for a prolonged legal and diplomatic battle.
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