Climate activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel on Tuesday, a day after the Israeli military confiscated the ship she and several other activists were using to travel to the Gaza Strip, the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced.
Thunberg was flown to France, from where she will return to her home country, Sweden, the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated on X.
Thunberg was among 12 travelers on the ship Madleen, which was carrying aid to Gaza in protest of Israel’s ongoing war and with the aim of drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which organized the journey.
The Israeli naval forces confiscated the ship without incident on Monday morning, approximately 200 kilometers off the coast of Gaza, according to the coalition. Both the coalition and human rights groups stated that Israel violated international law with this action.
Israel denies the accusations, stating that such vessels aim to break a naval blockade on Gaza, which it considers legal. The ship, escorted by the Israeli navy, arrived at the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to the Israeli Foreign Ministry.
Adalah, a legal rights organization in Israel representing the activists, said that Thunberg, two other activists, and a journalist had agreed to be deported and leave Israel. Eight activists refused deportation and are being held in custody, and their cases will be reviewed by Israeli authorities, according to Adalah. The group added that the activists are expected to appear in court later on Tuesday.
Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for Israel’s Interior Ministry, said that the activists being deported on Tuesday had waived their right to appear before a judge. Those who refused will appear in court and will be held for 96 hours before being deported.
Rima Hassan, a French Member of the European Parliament of Palestinian descent, was also among the volunteers on board. She had been barred from entering Israel due to her stances against Israeli policies towards Palestinians. It is unclear whether she will be immediately deported or has been detained.
On Monday, Adalah stated that Israel “had no legal authority” to take control of the ship, as it was in international waters and was not headed for Israel, but towards “the territorial waters of the state of Palestine.”
Amnesty International declared that Israel was violating international law with the naval intervention and called for the immediate and unconditional release of the activists.
Israel dismissed the ship’s mission as a publicity stunt, calling it the “selfie yacht.” Israeli officials stated that the ship was carrying “meager” aid, with a quantity smaller than a truckload.
