Greta Thunberg Condemns Israel’s ‘Systematic War Crimes’ after Deportation
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Greta Thunberg condemned Israel for kidnapping and suppressing humanitarian aid after being deported for attempting to deliver much-needed supplies to Gaza by sea.
Climate activist Thunberg was deported by Israel on Tuesday and flown to Paris after the Israeli navy intercepted her aid mission to Gaza.
Thunberg, 22, said her group was unarmed and operating in international waters when their ship was seized.
“We did nothing wrong,” she said at the airport. “We were 12 peaceful volunteers sailing on a civilian ship carrying humanitarian aid.”
She slammed Israel for committing “systematic war crimes” by blocking aid to starving civilians in Gaza.
Israeli forces intercepted their vessel, the Madleen, which aimed to breach the 17-year-long naval blockade on the besieged enclave.
Four activists, including Thunberg, accepted immediate deportation.
Eight others, including French MEP Rima Hassan, refused and are now held near Tel Aviv airport, awaiting a legal ruling.
“We were well aware of the risks of this mission,” Thunberg added. “The aim was to get to Gaza and distribute the aid.”
Israel has enforced a blockade on Gaza by land, air, and sea, justifying it as a security measure against Hamas.
It only allows very small food shipments, which are primarily routed through an Israeli-approved private distributor who happens to execute civilians seeking aid.
Israeli officials dismissed the sea mission as a media stunt.
“Greta and her friends brought in a tiny amount of aid on their celebrity yacht,” said Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar.
He claimed the aid would be rerouted to Gaza via “real humanitarian channels.”
Thunberg said the mission was backed by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition and noted a larger aid vessel was disabled last month in the Mediterranean, by Israeli drones.
She brushed off criticism from Donald Trump, who called her “angry” and “strange.”
“I think the world needs a lot more young angry women, especially with everything going on right now,” she said.
Thunberg, who avoids air travel due to its environmental impact, was later seen heading back to Sweden.
In March, Israel tightened its blockade to fully cut off aid to Gaza, contributing to famine-like conditions among over two million residents.
Only limited aid has entered in recent weeks, mostly through an Israeli-controlled system.
