Israeli officials have dismissed climate activist Greta Thunberg’s claims of mistreatment during her detention, labeling them as “brazen lies.”
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has alleged that she endured harsh conditions and faced bedbug-infested cells during her recent detention in Israel. However, Israeli officials have vehemently denied these claims, calling them “brazen lies.”
According to correspondence from the Swedish Foreign Ministry, which was reviewed by The Guardian, Thunberg reported to officials that she developed rashes that she believed were caused by bedbugs. Additionally, she expressed concerns about dehydration while in custody.
The activist’s complaints were reportedly detailed in a letter shared with her parents, in which she described her treatment as “harsh and exhausting.” Thunberg was detained by Israeli forces while participating in the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla aid expedition.
In a statement released on Sunday via X, an Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesperson asserted that all detainees’ legal rights were fully upheld during their time in custody. The spokesperson emphasized that Thunberg did not raise any complaints to Israeli authorities regarding the allegations she made, which they characterized as ludicrous and baseless.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry further reinforced its position by stating that detainees had access to food, water, legal counsel, and medical care. Court documents from an October 5 hearing before Israel’s Population and Migration Tribunal appear to support the official narrative, indicating that Thunberg requested deportation to Sweden but did not formally complain of mistreatment while detained.
In a separate post on X, the ministry noted an incident involving a Spanish detainee from Thunberg’s flotilla, who allegedly bit a female medical staff member at Ketziot Prison.
Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has characterized the flotilla participants as “supporters of terrorism,” expressing pride that they experienced conditions similar to those faced by terrorist detainees.
Thunberg, 22, was among approximately 450 activists from over a dozen countries who were detained after the Israeli navy intercepted the 42-boat Global Sumud Flotilla on October 1. The convoy had departed from Turkey a day earlier, aiming to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza and deliver symbolic humanitarian aid.
Other activists, including Turkish journalist and flotilla participant Ersin Çelik, have made serious allegations regarding Thunberg’s treatment, claiming that guards “dragged little Greta by her hair, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to both the Swedish Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Foreign Ministry for further comments on this situation.
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