Greta Thunberg, the world-famous climate refugee and international climate activist, was just arrested in Occupied Palestine/Israel. She is joined by 436 other activists, parliamentarians, and lawyers from the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF). The crew had made an incredible effort to get humanitarian aid to Gaza. Israeli authorities forced them to detain Thunberg, causing her to be taken off the flotilla.
Thunberg has documented terrible conditions while in Israeli custody, stating that she is being treated severely. As a sign of Sweden’s diplomatic role, the Swedish foreign ministry has repeatedly welcomed her access to legal counsel, and Swedish officials have visited her in prison. In one of their last communications, Thunberg told them of severe dehydration and lack of food. She detailed enduring 24 hour lockdowns on metal beds leading to bedbug induced rashes.
The document Israeli authorities have reportedly forced Thunberg to sign is apparently not one that she fully comprehended. The Swedish ministry’s official stated, “She expressed uncertainty about what the document meant and did not want to sign anything she did not understand.” This horrifying circumstance raises alarm not only for the treatment of detainees, but for their rights while in custody.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Thunberg was given only a packet of crisps while in detention. According to her legal team, she was held “for hours without food or water—until late last night. The prevalence of such conditions has sparked a national outcry over the treatment of people who have been detained in these circumstances.
Climate activist Thunberg now held at Ketziot Prison, the Ansar III. Home to some of Israel’s most dangerous prisoners, this maximum-security compound lies deep within the Negev desert. According to witnesses, she and her fellow activists were then mocked by Israeli border agents. These agents allegedly denied them sleep as one of their replacements’ detention tactics.
Despite the flotilla’s non-violent approach, Itamar Ben-Gvir—Israel’s far-right national security minister—responded with an iron fist. As recently as May, he called Thunberg and her fellow activists “terrorists.” He had previously called for their imprisonment, not deportation, an indication of the increased atmosphere of hysteria over the flotilla’s mission.
“These are the terrorists of the flotilla.” – Itamar Ben-Gvir
Though Thunberg’s fate is still uncertain, she has found a considerable amount of support from the international community. The Swedish ministry’s official who visited her prison stated, “The embassy has been able to meet with Greta. She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs.”
Thunberg’s situation is the second time she has been detained while participating in activist work connected to the flotilla. The Global Sumud Flotilla aims to bring humanitarian aid to Gaza, drawing attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the region.
As news continues to circulate about her detention, activists and humanitarian workers are asking what this means for international activism and humanitarian work. Thunberg’s high profile may bring increased scrutiny to Israel’s policies regarding activists engaged in such missions.
She expressed her concern that her photos would be shared while she was being held. The worry is that these images would be used as political pawns.