By News Editor 
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has reportedly faced severe mistreatment during her detention by Israeli authorities after her involvement in the Global Sumud Flotilla. Detained while attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians, Thunberg alleged she was held in a “bedbug-infested cell” with insufficient food and water.
In fact, the flotilla was kidnapped on international waters, then brought to Israeli controlled areas:
BREAKING
— LPC (@LandPalestine) October 4, 2025
The Israeli forces dragged Greta Thunberg by her hair, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag pic.twitter.com/adbmTVOxnc
Eyewitness accounts from fellow activists and Turkish journalist Ersin Çelik, who was also detained, allege that Israeli forces subjected Thunberg to humiliating treatment, including being dragged by her hair and forced to kiss the Israeli flag.
— Greta Thunberg, a brave woman, is only 22 years old
— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumud) October 4, 2025
— She was humiliated and wrapped in an Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy
— They took every opportunity to humiliate, any of us.
— I had the feeling of being in a really barbaric place
Italian journalist Lorenzo… pic.twitter.com/kDNYjkjte2
This account has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability regarding the treatment of detainees. Thunberg, 22, has been a prominent voice in the climate change movement and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism. As a high-profile figure, her detention has ignited a fierce debate over humanitarian efforts in conflict zones. Many activists are calling for her release and are drawing attention to Israel’s actions, which they claim violate international humanitarian laws, notably the treatment of non-combatants. In a statement, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they had intercepted multiple vessels attempting to breach the naval blockade of Gaza but did not comment specifically on Thunberg’s treatment.
For many supporters and activists, the ethics of detaining humanitarian workers and the conditions under which they are held have become a focal point of global protest against Israeli genocide in Palestine. Calls for the international community to intervene and address the human rights violations involving Thunberg and others detained. In Mexico, for example, hundreds protested in the country’s capital to demand their government protect the Mexican members of the flotilla.
Protests in Madrid attracted over 92,000 participants, while Barcelona saw 70,000 demonstrators rallying in support of the Gaza flotilla. Supporters of the flotilla maintain that the mission aimed to shine a light on the humanitarian crisis in the region. As activists and political leaders continue to react to the flotilla incident, Thunberg’s situation remains precarious, stirring international responses as the ongoing massacre of civilians in Gaza worsens.