Israel Deports Greta Thunberg to Paris After Boat to Gaza Is Seized

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Tuesday that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel a day after her boat was intercepted by Israeli naval forces while en route to Gaza. The British-flagged vessel, named Madleen, was attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade to deliver a symbolic shipment of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.

The seizure took place early Monday morning, approximately 200 km off the coast of Gaza. The boat was then escorted to the port of Ashdod, and the passengers—including Thunberg and eleven other activists—were taken to Ben Gurion International Airport.

During the operation, Israel described the voyage as a media stunt led by “celebrities” and accused the group of attempting to violate the legal naval blockade of Gaza. Israeli authorities also released photos of Thunberg seated inside a plane bound for Paris—a notable image, given Thunberg’s well-known opposition to flying due to environmental concerns.

Thunberg first flew to Paris, and from there is expected to return to Sweden, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Three of the passengers, including Thunberg, voluntarily accepted deportation; the remaining eight activists refused and are being held in detention while awaiting a court hearing in Israel, represented by the legal rights group Adalah.

While the activists remain in custody, the symbolic aid cargo—consisting of rice, powdered baby formula, and other food supplies—was confiscated by Israel. Authorities claim the items will be delivered to Gaza through official humanitarian channels.

Context
The flotilla set sail from Sicily on June 1 as a peaceful protest against the restrictions imposed on Gaza since March 2025. According to organizations like the UN, the enclave is facing a severe humanitarian crisis, with shortages of food, fuel, and medicine. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from entering the territory.