Greta Thunberg, the Swedish career protestor and climate agitator, returned to Europe on Tuesday evening following her deportation from Israel. Thunberg had been part of a flotilla attempting to challenge Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. After arriving in Paris, she spoke to journalists and reiterated her condemnation of Israel’s actions toward Palestinian Arabs while urging broader efforts to support humanitarian relief for Gaza.
In comments published by The Associated Press, Thunberg demanded that the remaining detained participants of the Madleen flotilla be released. She noted that the conditions they encountered during their maritime protest were “absolutely nothing compared to what people are going through in Palestine and especially Gaza right now.”
“The aim was to get to Gaza and to be able to distribute the aid,” Thunberg said, stressing that the participants were fully aware of the dangers associated with the voyage. She insisted their efforts to deliver assistance to Gaza would persist.
Now en route to Sweden, Thunberg explained she hadn’t had access to a phone in several days and looked forward to a shower. She also pointed out that the activists had been separated after their arrest, with some struggling to connect with legal counsel.
Thunberg was part of a group of 12 leftist demonstrators who joined the flotilla. Out of the group, four—including Thunberg—accepted deportation and were flown out of Israel. Thunberg was escorted to an El Al flight bound for Paris.
Those who rejected the deportation orders were taken to a holding facility and will remain there until the legal procedures surrounding their removal are completed.
When asked about her decision to accept deportation, Thunberg responded candidly: “Why would I want to stay in an Israeli prison more than necessary?”
Thunberg urged her supporters to pressure their home governments “to demand not only humanitarian aid being let into Gaza but most importantly an end to the occupation and an end to the systemic oppression and violence that Palestinians are facing on an everyday basis.”
She further argued that government recognition of “Palestine” is “the very, very, very minimum” that should be expected in the name of justice.
The IDF reported that the vessel was intercepted peacefully by Shayetet 13, Israel’s elite naval commando unit. Despite claims by some activists in prerecorded messages alleging they had been “kidnapped,” footage released by the Israeli government showed troops offering the passengers food and bottled water.
The vessel used in the operation was later taken to Ashdod Port. According to Israel’s Foreign Ministry, the cargo of aid onboard amounted to less than one truck’s worth of supplies, which would now be routed to Gaza via recognized humanitarian delivery systems.
{Matzav.com}