GRETA THUNBERG WAS FORMALLY DEPORTED AFTER CLAIMING THAT ISRAELI AUTHORITIES HAD KIDNAPPED HER WHEN SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO ENTER GAZA
Thunberg, along with 11 other activists, was onboard the Madleen, a boat carrying aid for people in Gaza. According to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC), which organised the trip, Israeli naval forces seized the ship early on Monday (local time), approximately 125 miles off the shore of Gaza. On Sunday, June 8, Thunberg said in a pre-recorded video on Twitter that she and her friends had been 'kidnapped in international waters' by Israeli soldiers; however, Israel's Foreign Ministry called their trip 'a media stunt whose primary intention was to seek publicity'.
On Monday night, the vessel, escorted by Israel's navy, reached the Israeli port of Ashdod. In a post on Twitter, Israel's Foreign Ministry shared a photo of Thunberg on a plane, stating that she was en route to France before continuing to Sweden. Thunberg, two other activists, and a journalist agreed to be deported, according to Adalah, an Israeli legal rights organisation that represents the 22-year-old and the other activists.
Other activists were being detained after refusing to be deported; Israeli authorities were scheduled to hear their case (via Sky News). "The activists who were being deported on Tuesday waived their right to appear before a judge, while those who did not would face one and be jailed for 96 hours before being deported," said Sabine Haddad, a spokeswoman for Israel's Interior Ministry, as reported by The Washington Post.
One of the volunteers on board was Rima Hassan, a French member of the European Parliament of Palestinian heritage. Because of her opposition to Israeli policy against the Palestinians, she has previously been prohibited from entering Israel; however, it is unclear if she will be deported or imprisoned, the outlet further reports.
But on Tuesday, June 10, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced that one of the French activists in custody had signed an expulsion order and would be travelling from Israel to France. He did not, however, specify who had signed the order. Meanwhile, the other five refused, he said, and all the activists received consular visits.
The group was "likely to be taken to the Ramleh detention facility unless they agree to leave immediately" at around one in the morning, according to FFC. They said: "We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid. Their detention is unlawful and a violation of international law."Additionally, Adalah stated that Israel lacked "any legal power" to confiscate the ship as the group had claimed it was in international waters and was bound for the "territorial waters of the state of Palestine" rather than Israel.
