The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has deported climate activist Greta Thunberg, who attempted to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian Gaza Strip by boat.
On June 10 (local time), the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement on X (formerly Twitter) that "Thunberg has just departed on a flight to Sweden via France." The ministry also disparaged the boat as a "selfie yacht," stating that the passengers went to Ben Gurion International Airport to return to their home countries from Israel. It further explained that those who do not voluntarily sign the deportation documents will be forcibly deported through legal procedures.
In the early morning of the previous day, the sailboat 'Maudlin,' operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and carrying Thunberg and 11 other activists, approached the Gaza Strip but was seized by the Israeli Navy's special forces unit Shayetet 13 and others. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered that Thunberg and the others aboard the Maudlin be transferred to Ashdod port and shown footage from October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
On June 1, Thunberg set sail from Sicily, Italy aboard the Maudlin, declaring her intention to deliver aid directly to the Gaza Strip. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition began in May 2010, led by Turkish charities and others, in an attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. At that time, six aid ships that first set sail were attacked by Israeli Navy special forces as they tried to dock in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of nine activists.
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