 "Thunberg was headed to Gaza on a humanitarian ship. Instagram/gretathunberg")
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was being deported from Israel to France on a flight, Israel said on Tuesday (June 10). Thunberg was onboard the Gaza-bound aid boat Madleen with 11 other activists when she was detained by Israel and taken to a Tel Aviv airport for deportation.
“Greta Thunberg is departing Israel on a flight to France,” Israel’s foreign ministry said on its official X account, along with two photos of the activist on board a plane. The Israeli foreign ministry also said the ship was stopped about 185 kilometers (115 miles) west of Gaza on Monday and was towed to the port of Ashdod.
“The passengers of the ‘Selfie Yacht’ arrived at Ben Gurion airport to depart from Israel and return to their home countries,” the Israeli foreign ministry said on X.
 "‘A strange person’: Trump says Greta Thunberg needs ‘anger management class’ over ‘kidnapping’ by Israel")
 "Why is Greta Thunberg sailing towards Gaza?")
The vessel being talked about was operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s long-standing naval blockade of the territory.
The activists on board included citizens of France, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Sweden, Spain, and the Netherlands, according to organisers. The ship was carrying food and supplies for Gaza, where humanitarian conditions have sharply deteriorated during the ongoing conflict.
“Our consul was able to see the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X. “One of them has agreed to leave voluntarily and should return today. The other five will be subject to forced deportation proceedings.”
Blockade and humanitarian concerns
Israel has enforced a naval blockade on Gaza for years, a measure it says is necessary to prevent arms smuggling to Palestinian militant groups. The blockade has remained in place throughout the war sparked by Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel.
In a statement Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz defended the blockade as essential to national security. “The blockade was needed to prevent Palestinian militants from importing weapons,” he said.
The Freedom Flotilla’s attempted breach of the blockade has drawn sharp criticism from countries including Turkey and Iran. Turkey’s government called the Israeli operation a “heinous attack,” while Iran labeled it “a form of piracy” in international waters.
In May, another Freedom Flotilla vessel, the Conscience, was reportedly damaged in international waters off Malta. Activists said they suspected an Israeli drone strike, though Israel did not confirm the incident.
A 2010 Israeli commando raid on the Turkish vessel Mavi Marmara, also part of a Gaza-bound flotilla, resulted in the deaths of 10 civilians and led to a diplomatic crisis between Israel and Turkey.
Aid restrictions and criticism
Israel is under growing international pressure to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, where the United Nations and aid agencies have warned of widespread food shortages and deteriorating access to basic services.
After barring aid for more than two months, Israel recently permitted some shipments to resume and began coordinating with the newly formed, US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). But the United Nations has refused to cooperate with the GHF, citing concerns about neutrality and operational transparency.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to Israeli figures compiled by AFP. In response, Israel launched a wide-scale military campaign in Gaza.
The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says at least 54,927 people have been killed since the war began, with the majority identified as civilians. The United Nations considers these figures credible.