Israel Calls Greta Thunberg's Detention Complaints 'Brazen Lies'; Court Docs Show No Formal Complaint
Activists, journalists and some detainees — including Greta Thunberg — have alleged mistreatment in Israeli custody after the interception of 42 boats, claiming withheld medicines, mockery and being singled out, repeated wakings, intimidation with dogs and laser sights, theft of belongings, forced kneeling and zip‑tied hands; roughly 450 activists were arrested and about 137 from 13 countries were later deported to Istanbul. The Israeli government called Thunberg’s complaints "brazen lies," said detainees had access to food, water, legal counsel and medical care, and noted court documents from an Oct. 5 tribunal hearing show Thunberg requested deportation to Sweden and made no formal complaint, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir publicly described participants as "supporters of terrorism" and said he was "proud" of their treatment.
📌 Key Facts
- Multiple detainees and journalists allege specific mistreatment in Israeli custody, including withholding medicines, mockery and singling out (including Greta Thunberg), repeated wakings, intimidation with dogs and laser sights, theft of belongings, forced kneeling and zip‑tied hands.
- Roughly 450 activists were arrested after Israel intercepted 42 boats; reporting says 137 activists from 13 countries subsequently arrived in Istanbul while many others remained detained in Israel.
- Israel’s 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.
- The Foreign Ministry also stated detainees had access to food, water, legal counsel and medical care, and alleged that a Spanish detainee bit a female medical staff member at Ketziot Prison.
- 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.
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben‑Gvir described flotilla participants as “supporters of terrorism,” said he was “proud” of how staff treated activists at Ketziot prison, 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 (3)
- 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.'
- 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.