Israel Denies Greta Thunberg’s Reported Jail Complaints, Calls Allegations “Brazen Lies”
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The Israeli government has strongly rejected reports that climate activist Greta Thunberg endured harsh conditions while detained earlier this month, calling the allegations “brazen lies.”
The dispute follows reports — first highlighted by The Guardian — that Thunberg told Swedish officials she was forced to sit for hours on hard surfaces in an Israeli detention facility, where she allegedly encountered bedbugs and lacked adequate food and water. According to correspondence seen by the British outlet, Thunberg, 22, said she developed skin rashes and described her treatment as “harsh and exhausting” after being taken into custody during her Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla aid expedition.
Israel Pushes Back
Israel’s Foreign Ministry issued a sharp denial on Sunday via X (formerly Twitter). A spokesperson said all detainees’ “legal rights were fully upheld,” adding:
“She did not complain to Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations because they never occurred.”
The ministry insisted detainees were provided food, water, legal counsel, and medical care, dismissing reports of mistreatment as false.
Court documents from an Oct. 5 hearing before Israel’s Population and Migration Tribunal — cited by local media — appear to support the official stance, showing that Thunberg requested deportation to Sweden but did not file formal complaints about conditions while in custody.
Flotilla and Arrest Context
Thunberg was among about 450 activists from over a dozen countries detained on October 1 after the Israeli navy intercepted the 42-boat Global Sumud Flotilla. The convoy, which departed Turkey a day earlier, aimed to breach Israel’s maritime blockade of Gaza and deliver symbolic humanitarian aid.
While Israeli officials maintain detainees were treated according to legal standards, other activists have described rough conditions. Turkish journalist Ersin Çelik, who was on the flotilla, alleged to Anadolu Agency that guards handled Thunberg aggressively and mistreated participants — claims that could not be independently verified.
Rising Tensions Around the Incident
The episode has added to the political tensions surrounding both the Gaza conflict and international activism. Israel’s National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, called flotilla participants “supporters of terrorism,” saying he was “proud they experienced the same conditions as terrorist detainees.”
Meanwhile, the Swedish Foreign Ministry has not publicly commented beyond confirming it is aware of the reports and in contact with Thunberg’s family.
The conflicting accounts highlight how the Global Sumud Flotilla has become a flashpoint, drawing global attention not only to the situation in Gaza but also to how activists are treated when challenging Israel’s blockade.
As of now, neither Thunberg nor her team has issued a direct public statement addressing the Israeli government’s rejection of the allegations.