Greeted by supporters in Athens
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Greece along with hundreds of campaigners who were expelled from Israel after attempting to deliver aid to Gaza. The group, part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, was intercepted as it tried to breach Israel’s blockade, prompting a wave of international attention and protests in Athens as the evacuees landed.
Thunberg, 22, joined thousands of mournful and mobilized voices calling for an immediate end to what critics describe as an inhumane siege. Upon landing at Athens International Airport, she and fellow passengers were met by cheering crowds, banners, and chants of solidarity. The flotilla’s aim, according to organizers, was to deliver humanitarian supplies and draw global focus to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Thunberg’s message and the wider flotilla objective
Speaking to journalists, Thunberg described the Global Sumud Flotilla as “the biggest ever attempt to break Israel’s illegal and inhumane siege by sea.” She urged world leaders to act to prevent what she called a genocide of Palestinians and criticized what she described as insufficient action from governments on the issue. Her remarks framed the event as part of a broader demand for accountability and humanitarian access in Gaza.
Activists in Athens held and unfurled a large Palestinian flag in the arrivals hall, singing “Freedom for Palestine” and “Long live the flotilla.” The moment underscored the ongoing mobilization among pro-Palestinian groups across Europe following the interception of the flotilla by Israeli authorities.
Accounts of detention and allegations of mistreatment
While in transit, some detainees described harsh treatment at the hands of Israeli police. Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament who landed in Greece, reported being assaulted by officers after the flotilla was intercepted. Hassan said detainees were held in high-security facilities, with accounts of crowded cells and limited access to water and food in the initial hours of detention.
Yasmin Acar, a steering committee member for the flotilla, characterized detainees’ treatment as akin to “treatment like animals” and alleged sleep deprivation, physical assaults, and lack of basic necessities. Israeli authorities, however, rejected the claims of mistreatment as untrue, saying the operations were necessary to maintain security and manage unlawful activities at sea.
Detentions, releases, and the international response
Greek authorities described the arrivals as a “special repatriation flight,” noting that 27 Greeks and 134 other nationals from 15 European countries were part of the group. Israel’s foreign ministry announced that 171 activists had been deported overall, with some later returning to Slovakia, the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States. The flotilla had departed from Barcelona in early September and was intercepted off the coast of Egypt earlier this month.
Israel framed the flotilla as an offshoot of Hamas and argued that the ships violated a prohibited maritime area. It claimed that little humanitarian aid was found aboard the vessels and that police detained more than 470 people in connection with the operation. In total, 138 participants remained detained in Israel at the time, according to official statements.
What comes next
As the returnees recounted their experiences, attention shifted to the broader debate over aid access to Gaza, the legality of the blockade, and ongoing international responses. For supporters of the flotilla, the incident amplifies calls for greater humanitarian corridors and independent investigations into treatment of detainees. Critics urged restraint and emphasized security concerns linked to border interceptions.
Regardless of the divergent viewpoints, the Athens welcome highlighted a moment of solidarity and political mobilization around the Gaza crisis, as activists, politicians, and ordinary citizens grapple with how best to respond to a complex and rapidly evolving situation.
