Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel after being detained for several days following her attempt to reach Gaza aboard a humanitarian flotilla. Israeli authorities confirmed on October 6 that Thunberg, along with more than 170 other participants, had been escorted out of the country after what officials described as a “lawful and orderly process.”

The flotilla, known as the Global Sumud Flotilla, carried over 437 activists, lawyers, and parliamentarians from multiple countries who sought to deliver humanitarian supplies to Gaza amid worsening shortages of food, medicine, and fuel. The convoy of over 40 vessels was intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters before being escorted to the port of Ashdod, where the activists were taken into custody.

Photographs released by Israeli authorities show Thunberg and other detainees wearing gray sweatsuits and white t-shirts, being processed for deportation under supervision. Thunberg and several of her fellow activists were later flown to Athens, Greece, where they were met by supporters and aid organizers.

In a statement released Sunday, Israeli officials said, “All legal rights of those detained were fully upheld. Allegations of mistreatment are false and part of a pre-planned misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting Israel.”

However, multiple reports from The Guardian, Reuters, and the Swedish foreign ministry paint a starkly different picture. According to those accounts, Thunberg and other detainees endured harsh conditions at Ketziot Prison, located in Israel’s southern Negev Desert. They were allegedly placed in overcrowded, bedbug-infested cells, with limited access to food and drinking water. Sources close to Thunberg claim that she suffered from dehydration, skin irritation, and exhaustion while in custody.

Additional allegations claim that detainees were pressured to participate in staged photos, forced to hold Israeli flags and smile for the camera before being released. Israeli officials have categorically denied these claims, calling them “fabrications intended to inflame public opinion.”

Thunberg, 22, has been one of the most visible environmental and humanitarian figures of her generation, using her platform to highlight both climate change and human rights abuses. Her participation in the flotilla marked her third attempt to reach Gaza with aid this year. Organizers say their goal was to draw attention to what they describe as the “collective punishment” of civilians under the ongoing blockade, which has left millions struggling with food insecurity and a collapsing healthcare system.

Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, condemned Israel’s handling of the activists, calling it an excessive and politically motivated response. “Greta Thunberg and others were exercising their right to peaceful protest,” Amnesty stated. “Their treatment and detention raise serious questions about Israel’s commitment to international law.”

In Sweden, protests erupted outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, with demonstrators demanding accountability and transparency. The Swedish foreign ministry confirmed that it had lodged a formal request for information regarding Thunberg’s detention and deportation.

Israeli authorities, however, remain defiant. “No nation would allow unauthorized entry into a conflict zone controlled by a terrorist organization,” said a spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry. “We will continue to protect our citizens and borders in accordance with international law.”

Upon arrival in Athens, Thunberg briefly addressed reporters, saying only, “No one should be punished for trying to deliver aid to those in need. We will continue.” Her words drew applause from supporters who hailed her as a symbol of courage and compassion.

As of today, the Global Sumud organizers have vowed to continue their efforts, announcing plans for another mission later this year. Meanwhile, debate continues to rage across social media and diplomatic circles—whether Greta Thunberg’s detention was a justified act of national security or a troubling sign of how far governments will go to silence humanitarian voices.