Greta Thunberg among Gaza flotilla detainees set to leave Israel

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg will be among more than 70 people of various nationalities to leave Israel on October 6, following their detention after an intercepted Gaza aid flotilla.

Officials said most of those being released are expected to fly to Greece, from where they can continue on to their home countries, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The group includes 28 French citizens, 27 Greeks, 15 Italians, and nine Swedes. Twenty-one Spaniards returned to Spain on October 5, while 28 Spanish nationals remain in Israeli custody.

All were aboard the 45-vessel Global Sumud Flotilla, carrying activists and politicians attempting to breach the Israeli blockade to deliver aid to Gaza, where the UN has warned of famine conditions. Israeli forces began intercepting the ships in international waters on October 1, preventing boats with more than 400 people from reaching Palestinian territory.

Italy and Greece’s foreign ministries said their citizens would fly from Israel to Athens on October 6. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani posted on X that the 15 Italians would receive assistance for onward travel to Italy. 

France’s foreign ministry confirmed that the 28 French nationals would also be flown to Greece. Swedish officials did not specify the Swedes’ route, but local media reported they too may travel via Greece.

A first group of 26 Italians left Israel on October 4. The final 15, however, had to wait for judicial approval for expulsion after refusing to sign a form for voluntary release. Several Italians in the first group reported degrading treatment while in Israeli custody. 

Saverio Tommasi, a journalist for Fanpage, said he was hit on the back and head by Israeli captors. "We were treated like old monkeys in the worst circuses of the 1920s," he told the Ansa press agency.

Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that embassy staff in Tel Aviv had been able to visit the nine Swedes in detention. "Late Sunday, the Israeli authorities informed us that they were set to authorise the Swedish citizens to leave Israel tomorrow (Monday) by plane," she said.

One Spaniard who returned home on October 5, Rafael Borrego, told reporters that those detained had suffered "repeated physical and mental abuse", including being struck and forced to the ground.

By Aghakazim Guliyev