Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel after her involvement in a humanitarian aid mission bound for the Gaza Strip, which was intercepted by Israeli naval forces.
Thunberg, 22, was among a group of international activists sailing aboard the Madleen, a vessel organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aimed at delivering much-needed aid and drawing global attention to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Thunberg was placed on a flight to Sweden via France early Tuesday. “Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden,” the ministry posted on X (formerly Twitter), including a photo of her boarding the aircraft at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.
The Madleen set sail from Sicily last week carrying a limited cargo of food and medical supplies, attempting to breach the maritime blockade imposed by Israel.
The vessel was intercepted Monday morning in international waters under the orders of Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
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The FFC reported that the ship was forcibly boarded by Israeli forces, and the activists were detained while the humanitarian cargo was confiscated.
The Israeli government has defended the interception, characterizing the mission as a “provocation” rather than a legitimate humanitarian effort.
A spokesperson from the Foreign Ministry described the boat as a “selfie yacht,” downplaying the significance of the activists’ actions.
Thunberg and several other activists were brought ashore and processed for deportation. While three other foreign nationals departed Israel alongside her, eight additional activists—who refused to sign deportation documents—remain in custody. Among them is Rima Hassan, a member of the European Parliament from France.
