Israel to expel Gaza assistance vessel activists, Greta Thunberg among them | Gaza

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and other activists who were on board an aid ship attempting to reach Gaza were taken to a Tel Aviv airport for deportation, according to Israel’s foreign ministry. The activists, who had departed from Italy on June 1, were intercepted by Israeli naval forces in international waters and towed to the port of Ashdod. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirmed that all 12 campaigners were being processed and transferred into Israeli custody, and may be allowed to depart from Tel Aviv as soon as that night. Videos released by the group showed the activists with their hands up as Israeli forces boarded the vessel, with no reports of injuries. The interception of the ship was widely criticized, with Turkey condemning it as a “heinous attack” and Iran calling it “a form of piracy.” The ship was carrying a symbolic amount of food and supplies to Gaza, where the United Nations has warned that the entire population is at risk of famine. In May, another Freedom Flotilla ship, the Conscience, was damaged in international waters off Malta, with activists suspecting an Israeli drone attack. Meanwhile, a convoy of buses traveling from Tunisia to Gaza was also taking place, with the aim of breaking through the Israeli blockade on the territory, although Cairo has yet to provide passage permits.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/10/gaza-aid-boat-activists-greta-thunberg-israel-deportation