Israel deports activist Greta Thunberg a day after Gaza-bound ship seized

Israel's Foreign Ministry shared two images of Thunberg being deported from the country on its X handle.

In the images, she could be seen sitting in the plane.

The Ministry said: "Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)."

Israel intercepted an aid ship that was heading towards Gaza and carried prominent activists like Greta Thunberg.

Israeli authorities detained those who were present on the ship and took them to Israel.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), an organisation that has campaigned against Israel's blockade of Gaza, earlier said it launched the civilian ship Madleen that was carrying humanitarian aid and international human rights defenders.

Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan and climate justice activist Greta Thunberg were among the prominent people who were present on the ship.

Meanwhile, five of Greta's fellow travellers in the Gaza-bound ship have refused to voluntarily depart from Israel.

France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot confirmed the issue and wrote on X: "Our consul was able to meet with the six French nationals arrested by the Israeli authorities last night. Their relatives have been contacted. One of them has agreed to voluntary departure and is expected to return today. The other five will be subject to a forced expulsion process."

Food Crisis In Gaza

The worsening humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip has reached “unprecedented levels of despair,” the UN said on Monday, amid more reports of people being killed and injured near newly-established distribution sites.

Since the end of May, aid distribution in Gaza has been carried out by a mechanism backed by Israel and the United States bypassing UN agencies and their established partners, which has been plagued by deadly incidents and chaos.

On Monday, UN partner the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported that 29 casualties arrived at its field hospital in west Rafah that morning, eight of whom had died.

Almost all had explosive trauma wounds, with two others suffering gunshot wounds.

Forced To Choose

“The UN reiterates that civilians must always be protected,” said Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, speaking from Headquarters in New York.

“No person, anywhere, should be forced to choose between risking one’s life and feeding one’s family.” 

Fuelling Aid Efforts

Meanwhile, fuel stocks in Gaza are dangerously low, putting further strain on critical services and humanitarian operations.

Haq said that some 260,000 litres of fuel were looted in northern Gaza over the weekend.

Prior to this, the UN had repeatedly tried to reach these stocks to retrieve them, but the Israeli authorities denied these attempts – with 14 denials since 15 May.

“Our attempts to reach fuel supplies in Rafah, in the south of Gaza, also continue to be denied,” he added.

“The UN warns that unless a solution is found in the coming days, the entire aid operation could come to a standstill.”