An update has been issued on the welfare of Greta Thunberg and 11 other activists who were onboard a boat that was seized by Israeli forces.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg had been aboard the Madleen, a British-flagged vessel operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), on a mission to deliver aid to Palestinians when the boat was intercepted by military forces.
Following the incident, a prerecorded video message from Thunberg was released, in which she called for urgent help.
“My name is Greta Thunberg, and I am from Sweden,” the 22-year-old said. “If you’re seeing this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by Israeli occupation forces—or forces supporting Israel.”
She continued, “I urge all my friends
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that by the evening of June 9, Greta Thunberg and the other activists had arrived in Ashdod, where they underwent medical evaluations to ensure their well-being.
Deportation proceedings have since begun. Thunberg agreed to leave and boarded a flight from Tel Aviv to France on Tuesday, with a photo of her on the plane circulating online.
Meanwhile, France reports that five of the six French activists refused to sign their deportation orders. They will now face an Israeli judicial process.
In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Israel’s Foreign Ministry said:
“Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorize their deportation.”
France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said on X that a French consul had visited the six nationals detained by Israeli authorities.
“One has agreed to leave voluntarily and is expected to return today,” he wrote. “The remaining five will face forced deportation proceedings.”
Meanwhile, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) issued a statement Monday night, saying it expects any activists refusing deportation to be transferred from Ramle prison near Tel Aviv.
“We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid,” the FFC said. “Their kidnapping is unlawful and violates international law.”
