October 5, 2025 | 12:37 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of international activists deported from Israel for participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla aid convoy have accused Israeli forces of mistreating climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Turkish journalist and Sumud Gaza Flotilla participant Ersin Celik stated that he witnessed Israeli forces mistreating Greta Thunberg. Thunberg was dragged on the ground and forced to kiss the Israeli flag.
Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi and American participant Windfield Beaver gave similar accounts at Istanbul Airport. According to Helmi, Greta Thunberg was pushed and paraded with an Israeli flag. The detainees were not provided with food, clean water, and medication. "It was a disaster. They treated us like animals," said Helmi as quoted from Al Jazeera on Sunday, October 5, 2025.
According to Windfield Beaver, Thunberg was mistreated and used for propaganda. Greta Thunberg was pushed into a room when right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered.
Italian journalist Lorenzo Agostino, who was on the convoy, also described the harsh treatment towards Thunberg. “Greta Thunberg, a brave woman, is only 22 years old. She was humiliated and wrapped in an Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy,” he said to Anadolu.
A total of 137 deported individuals landed in Istanbul on Saturday, October 4, 2025. They included 36 Turkish citizens along with activists from the United States, Italy, Malaysia, Kuwait, Switzerland, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan, and other countries.
During their detention in Israel, they faced harsh treatment. “They treated us like dogs. They left us hungry for three days. They didn’t give us water; we had to drink from the toilet … It was a terribly hot day, and we were all roasting.” said Turkish TV presenter Ikbal Gurpinar. She stated that the ordeal gave her a better understanding of Gaza.
Turkish activist Aycin Kantoglu recounted blood-stained prison walls and messages left by previous detainees. “We saw mothers writing their children’s names on the walls. We actually experienced a little bit of what Palestinians go through,” she said.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that 26 Italian citizens had been deported, while 15 are still held in Israeli detention awaiting expulsion.
Italian parliament member Arturo Scotto was among the activists on the Global Sumud Flotilla. “Those who were acting legally were the people aboard those boats; those who acted illegally were those who prevented them from reaching Gaza,” he remarked.
Israeli human rights group Adalah provided legal assistance to Global Sumud Flotilla activists. The group stated that the detainees reported being forced to kneel with their hands tied for hours, denied medication, and prohibited from speaking with lawyers.
However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry dismissed these claims as baseless lies, insisting that all detainees were treated in accordance with the law.
Meanwhile, three Indonesian volunteers from the Global Sumud Flotilla have returned to Indonesia after failing to breach the Israeli blockade in Gaza on Sunday, October 4, 2025. They are activist Wanda Hamidah; Aqsa Working Group (AWG) volunteer Muhammad Fatur Rohman; and Indonesia Global Peace Convoy (IGPC) Coordinator Muhammad Husein.
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