Greta Thunberg calls to “end the complicity” in first speech since Israel deportation
Greta Thunberg delivered her first speech after being deported from Israel over the Gaza aid flotilla. Arriving in Athens, she called Israel’s actions “genocide and mass destruction” and said the mission was “a last resort.”
- Greta Thunberg gave her first speech after being deported from Israel over the Gaza aid flotilla.
- She called Israel’s actions “genocide and mass destruction” and the mission “a last resort.”
- Thunberg told supporters the activists are not heroes, "just doing the bare minimum.”
- Activists alleged mistreatment in detention, which Israel denied.
- Over 170 participants were deported to Greece and Slovakia.
GREECE: Upon arrival at Athens International Airport on 6 October 2025, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg raised her fist as she exited the plane, greeted by cheering supporters and handed bouquets of roses.
She was among the 161 people from 16 European countries whom the Greek foreign ministry said had just been deported by Israel after participating in a Gaza-bound aid flotilla, which was intercepted by Israeli forces.
First Public Remarks After Deportation
This marked her first public remarks since being deported from Israel following the flotilla mission.
In total, Israel said it expelled 171 activists to Greece and Slovakia.
Speaking to reporters in Athens, Thunberg described the flotilla effort as “a last resort” and declined to dwell on her own treatment in custody.
Instead, she equated Israel’s actions to genocide, accusing it of seeking to obliterate a people and condemning governments that enable it.
“Israel is escalating genocide and mass destruction with genocidal intent,” she said, and insisted that stopping humanitarian aid while civilians are starved is a violation of international law.
“Not a Hero — Just Doing the Bare Minimum”
The crowd responded with cheers and cries of “hero,” but Thunberg rejected that label, calling herself merely a citizen doing the “bare minimum.”
She did, however, confirm that during detention, she endured harsh conditions — including being held with bedbugs and compelled to kiss or pose with the Israeli flag.
Other activists claim she was dragged by her hair and publicly beaten — allegations the Israeli embassy vehemently denies.
Flotilla Interception and Israeli Response
Thunberg was among 437 people aboard the Global Sumud flotilla, which had attempted to deliver aid to Gaza before it was intercepted.
In response, Israel’s foreign ministry released images of her at the airport, and stated that detainees’ legal rights were respected.
It asserted the only instance of violence involved an activist who bit a medic at Ketziot prison.
Reports of Mistreatment and Official Denials
Of the nine Swiss activists among the deportees, some later reported suffering from sleep deprivation, food and water shortages, and physical assaults — including beatings, kicks, and confinement in cages. The Israeli foreign ministry rejected these allegations as well.
Meanwhile, The Guardian reported that Swedish diplomatic correspondence revealed Thunberg had informed embassy officials of dehydration, inadequate food, and rashes she believed were due to bedbugs during her detention.
