In an email sent by the Swedish foreign ministry to people close to Thunberg, and seen by the Guardian, an official who has visited the activist in prison said she claimed she was detained in a cell infested with bedbugs, with too little food and water.
“The embassy has been able to meet with Greta,” reads the email. “She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.”
“Another detainee reportedly told another embassy that they had seen her [Thunberg] being forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. She wondered whether images of her had been distributed,” the Swedish ministry’s official added.
The allegation was corroborated by at least two other members of the flotilla who had been detained by Israeli forces and released on Saturday.
“They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.
Israel says it has stopped a pro-Palestinian flotilla carrying aid from reaching Gaza, with its navy intercepting all but one of the vessels trying to breach the blockade.
Of the 42 vessels being tracked online by the Global Sumud flotilla (GSF), 41 were listed as having been confirmed or assumed to have been stopped by Israeli forces.
On Thursday evening GSF started a live stream on Instagram showing a video of a vessel named Marinette which was still navigating.
“Marinette is still sailing strong,” said the GSF, though it appeared to be farther offshore and parallel to the coast of Egypt.
Offtopic: I see that post was moved to ~society, however I cannot find it anywhere on the right panel of main page. Is it some hidden group or a subgroup of some particular group? [edit]...
Offtopic:
I see that post was moved to ~society, however I cannot find it anywhere on the right panel of main page. Is it some hidden group or a subgroup of some particular group?
[edit]
Nevermind, I've just noticed there's "Browse the list of groups" button on the main page, the group is just not displayed there, but after clicking the button it's there.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/04/greta-thunberg-israel-gaza-sweden
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/02/israel-intercepts-aid-flotilla-but-one-ship-reported-to-have-got-through-blockade
Offtopic:
I see that post was moved to ~society, however I cannot find it anywhere on the right panel of main page. Is it some hidden group or a subgroup of some particular group?
[edit]
Nevermind, I've just noticed there's "Browse the list of groups" button on the main page, the group is just not displayed there, but after clicking the button it's there.