According to activists, the Swedish climate campaigner was harshly dealt with after being arrested en route to Gaza
Israel has rejected claims that it mistreated Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg and other members of the Global Sumud flotilla as “brazen lies.” Meanwhile, the Israeli government minister in charge of prisons has said he is proud the activists are being treated like terrorists.
Fellow activists and lawyers have claimed that Thunberg, along with others, was subjected to “torture” and “harsh treatment” in an Israeli prison after their Gaza aid flotilla was intercepted and they were arrested.
Thunberg and fellow activists were attempting to breach the blockade of Gaza by sea, but were stopped by the Israeli Navy on Friday. Most detainees were taken to Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert, and more than 130 have since been deported to Türkiye.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the claims of mistreatment of the detainees “from the Hamas–Sumud flotilla” are false. “All the detainees’ legal rights are fully upheld. Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody,” the statement published on Sunday reads.
The ministry added that Thunberg “did not complain to the Israeli authorities” regarding any of the allegations.
Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has said he is “proud” of the harsh conditions the activists are being held in.
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”I went to visit Ketziot prison and I was proud that we are treating the ‘flotilla activists’ as terror supporters, whoever supports terrorism is a terrorist, and deserves the conditions of terrorists… It is worthwhile for them to experience the conditions in Ketziot prison, and think twice before they come close to Israel again. That’s how it works,” he said, as cited by the Times of Israel.
Thunberg has reportedly met with Swedish embassy officials but has yet to speak with a lawyer, according to flotilla activists.
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