Greta Thunberg Returns to Europe After Flotilla Attempt to Break Gaza Blockade

Thunberg Lands in Greece After Gaza Aid Mission

Athens, October 7, 2025: Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Athens on Monday, returning to Europe after participating in a flotilla that attempted to deliver aid to Gaza amid the ongoing conflict with Israel. AFP journalists at Athens International Airport reported that Thunberg, along with 160 other campaigners, was warmly welcomed by fellow activists.

The flotilla, organized under the banner Global Sumud, sought to challenge Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza, which the organizers have described as “illegal and inhumane.” Thunberg called the mission the largest civilian effort to breach the blockade by sea, urging global governments to intervene and address what she described as “the ongoing humanitarian crisis and systematic violence against Palestinians.”

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Allegations of Mistreatment in Israeli Custody

Several participants, including Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of the European Parliament, reported physical abuse after being detained by Israeli authorities. “I was struck by two officers while being placed in a van,” Hassan told AFP, adding that detainees were held in overcrowded cells with inadequate basic necessities.

Another flotilla organizer, Yasmin Acar, described conditions in detention as dehumanizing, including sleep deprivation, limited access to water, and no food for the first 48 hours. Israel has denied these allegations, stating that the claims are false and that the detainees were treated in accordance with the law.

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International Repatriation and Arrests

The Greek Foreign Ministry confirmed that a special repatriation flight brought 27 Greek citizens and 134 nationals from 15 European countries back to Europe. Bratislava authorities confirmed the return of a Slovak citizen, along with ten others from the Netherlands, Canada, and the United States.

According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, a total of 171 activists have been deported, while 138 participants remain in detention within Israel. The flotilla, which departed from Barcelona in early September, was intercepted off Egypt by the Israeli Navy. Israel claimed that the vessels violated a prohibited maritime zone and carried minimal humanitarian aid.

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Flotilla Sparks Broader Debate

Israel has labeled the flotilla an extension of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group governing Gaza, framing the mission as a security threat. The incident highlights ongoing tensions over humanitarian access to Gaza, a region experiencing widespread conflict and blockade restrictions for nearly two decades.

Experts note that the flotilla underscores the challenges faced by civilian activists in conflict zones, as well as the diplomatic tensions it can generate between nations, including Israel, EU member states, and international humanitarian organizations.

While the activists have returned to Europe, the flotilla mission has intensified international discussion on blockade legality, human rights, and civilian protection in Gaza.