Israel Deports 171 Flotilla Activists Including Greta Thunberg; 150 Remain Detained at Ktziot
Israel has deported 171 people detained after the Gaza flotilla interception — including climate activist Greta Thunberg, with dozens disembarking in Athens — while roughly 150 activists remain held at Ktziot prison, about 40 of whom are reported on hunger strike. Detainees and journalists have alleged a range of mistreatment (withholding medicines, intimidation, forced restraints, theft and targeted abuse, including claims by some South African women that hijabs were ripped off), allegations Israeli authorities deny, saying legal rights were upheld; National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir called the activists "supporters of terrorism" and praised their treatment.
Human Rights
War & Conflict
International
📌 Key Facts
- Israel intercepted 42 boats and arrested roughly 450 activists; it has deported 171 people detained in the flotilla (including Greta Thunberg), dozens of deportees disembarked in Athens on Oct. 6, and earlier reporting said about 137 activists from 13 countries arrived in Istanbul while many others remained in Israeli custody.
- About 150 activists remain held at Ktziot prison; roughly 40 of them are reported to be on hunger strike and lawyers say some detainees are refusing food and water.
- Multiple detainees, journalists and lawyers allege specific mistreatment in Israeli custody, including withholding medicines, mockery, being singled out (including allegations involving Greta Thunberg), repeated wakings, intimidation with dogs and laser sights, theft of belongings, forced kneeling and having hands zip‑tied.
- Six South African activists — including two named Muslim women, Fatima Hendricks and Zaheera Soomar — say they were singled out and subjected to harsher treatment (allegations include hijabs being ripped off and being forced to strip behind a screen); some link the treatment to South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry and other authorities deny the mistreatment claims, calling Thunberg’s allegations 'brazen lies,' saying detainees had access to food, water, legal counsel and medical care, and asserting activists were offered the option of deportation without detention; officials also alleged a Spanish detainee bit a female medical staff member.
- Court documents from an Oct. 5 hearing before Israel’s Population and Migration Tribunal show Thunberg requested deportation to Sweden and made no formal complaint of mistreatment while in custody, a detail that conflicts with activists’ public accounts.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir publicly described flotilla participants as 'supporters of terrorism,' said he was 'proud' of how staff treated activists at Ketziot, and said they experienced the 'same conditions as terrorist detainees.'
📚 Contextual Background
- Israel enforces a naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.
- Ketziot Prison is a detention facility located in the Negev desert in southern Israel.
📰 Sources (5)
South African activists on Gaza flotilla claim harsh treatment by Israel over genocide case
New information:
- Six South African activists (including Mandla Mandela’s delegation members) say they were singled out and subjected to harsher treatment because of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the ICJ.
- Two named South African Muslim women, Fatima Hendricks and Zaheera Soomar, allege their hijabs were ripped off and that they were forced to strip naked behind a screen in front of Israeli soldiers—a treatment they say was not applied to other detainees.
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry formally denied mistreatment claims and said activists were given the option to be deported without detention; activists and Israel offer directly conflicting accounts.
Greta Thunberg is among flotilla activists deported from Israel. Others remain in prison
New information:
- Israel deported 171 people detained in the flotilla interception (countries of citizenship listed include the United States).
- Dozens of deportees (including Greta Thunberg) disembarked in Athens, Greece on Oct. 6, 2025 and Thunberg was quoted condemning treatment and urging attention to Gaza.
- About 150 activists remain held in Israel’s Ktziot prison; roughly 40 of them are reported to be on hunger strike.
- Adalah lawyers say some detainees are refusing food and water and allege rights violations during interception, transfer and detention; Israeli authorities have denied mistreatment.
Greta Thunberg's alleged jail complaints called 'brazen lies' by Israeli government
New information:
- Israeli Foreign Ministry publicly called Greta Thunberg’s claims about bedbugs, dehydration and being forced to sit on hard surfaces 'brazen lies' and said detainees' legal rights were fully upheld.
- Court documents from an Oct. 5 hearing before Israel’s Population and Migration Tribunal show Thunberg requested deportation to Sweden and made no formal complaint of mistreatment while in custody.
- The Israeli Foreign Ministry said detainees had access to food, water, legal counsel and medical care; it also alleged a Spanish detainee bit a female medical staff member at Ketziot Prison.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir described flotilla participants as 'supporters of terrorism' and said he was 'proud they experienced the same conditions as terrorist detainees.'
Released Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel
New information:
- Multiple detainees and journalists allege specific mistreatment in Israeli custody: withholding medicines, mockery, being singled out (Greta Thunberg), repeated wakings, intimidation with dogs and laser sights, theft of belongings, forced kneeling and zip‑tied hands.
- Far‑right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir publicly said he was 'proud' of how staff treated activists at Ketziot prison and framed them as 'supporters of terrorism.'
- Characterized scale and locations: roughly 450 activists arrested after the interception of 42 boats; reporting notes 137 activists from 13 countries subsequently arrived in Istanbul, while many others remained in detention in Israel.