Activists from the Global Sumud flotilla claim Israeli authorities tortured 22‑year‑old Greta Thunberg, dragging her by hair and forcing her to kiss the Israeli flag during her detention.
Reports of Physical Abuse Against Greta Thunberg
About 137 activists from the Global Sumud flotilla were arrested by Israel while delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. While some are awaiting trial, others remain in prison. Activists claim that Israeli officials tortured the 22‑year‑old climate activist. A Turkish journalist, Ersin Celik, said he witnessed Thunberg being dragged by her hair, beaten, and forced to kiss the Israeli flag as a warning to others. Italian activist Lorenzo D’Agostino described her humiliation, being wrapped in the flag and displayed publicly as a trophy. The American activist Windfield Beaver recounted similar treatment of a Swedish activist, describing her as being “terribly treated” and used for propaganda.
Thunberg Appeals to Swedish Embassy
According to a report by The Guardian, Thunberg met with a Swedish embassy representative after receiving an email from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the conversation, she told embassy staff that she was being deprived of water, that she was not receiving sufficient food, that rashes had appeared on her skin, possibly due to bed bugs, and that she had spent long periods on hard surfaces.
Flotilla Members Claim Systematic Torture
Participants say they were left hungry for three days, denied clean water, and forced to drink from toilets. They describe being treated like animals, with personal belongings confiscated. A Turkish TV presenter, Ikbal Gurpinar, told journalists that they were “treated like dogs,” that the situation was a disaster. Malaysian singer Hazwani Helmi added that detainees were denied water and food, and that their belongings were seized.
Detention & Forced Kneeling
The Israeli human‑rights organisation Adalah issued a statement after meeting with activists. They report that the Global Sumud flotilla members were forced to kneel with their arms shackled for at least five hours, denied water, medicine, toilet access, and legal aid, and were violently awakened whenever they tried to sleep. Minister of National Security Itamar Ben‑Gwir allegedly visited the detention site in Ashdod, shouting “terrorists” in Hebrew, while detainees responded with “Free Palestine.” Most detainees are held at Ketziot prison in the Negev desert. Israeli officials have denied the allegations, saying that detainees have full access to water, food, toilets, legal aid, and that their rights are respected.
