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Activists detained by Israel during a flotilla attempting to deliver aid to Gaza have alleged that Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was mistreated while in custody, including being forced to wear an Israeli flag. The Global Sumud Flotilla, which set sail last month, aimed to ferry humanitarian aid to the war-battered Gaza Strip. Israel intercepted the vessels and detained over 400 participants, sparking global protests. On Saturday, at least 137 activists returned to Istanbul, including 36 Turkish nationals.

Eyewitness Accounts Of Alleged Mistreatment

Two activists, Hazwani Helmi from Malaysia and Windfield Beaver from the United States, told Reuters that they witnessed Thunberg being pushed and paraded with an Israeli flag.

“It was a disaster. They treated us like animals,” said Helmi, 28, describing how detainees were allegedly denied food, clean water, and medical care. Beaver said Thunberg was “treated terribly” and “used as propaganda,” recalling that she was shoved into a room as Israel’s far-right National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, arrived.

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Turkish journalist and flotilla participant Ersin Celik corroborated these claims, reporting that Israeli forces “dragged Greta on the ground” and “forced her to kiss the Israeli flag.” Italian journalist Lorenzo Agostino also described Thunberg’s treatment, saying, “Greta Thunberg, a brave woman, is only 22 years old. She was humiliated, wrapped in an Israeli flag, and exhibited like a trophy.”

Reports Of Mistreatment

The legal aid organisation Adalah, representing some of the detained activists, stated on Saturday that many participants reported mistreatment by the Israeli Prison Service. According to the organisation, detainees were denied basic necessities, and some claimed to have been physically manhandled by Israeli law enforcement.

Malaysian volunteer Hazwani Helmi added that Thunberg was allegedly beaten severely and had an Israeli flag placed over her face. Windfield Beaver told the Malay daily Kosmo that Thunberg was “treated far worse than others,” claiming she was tied to a trolley, dragged, and beaten at the discretion of Israeli forces.

“She was taken to a closed room where Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was present. We could only hear screaming. It was very frightening,” Helmi said during a media session at Istanbul Airport.

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Israel Denies Allegations

Israel's foreign ministry rejected these claims as "total lies," confirming that detainees were treated as per law and given water, food, restroom visits, and legal aid.

The Global Sumud Flotilla episode has ramped up international criticism of Israel's Gaza blockade and treatment of activists who sought to bring relief to Gaza. Thunberg, an influential environmental activist, has before this brought attention to worldwide humanitarian emergencies, and accounts of her purported abuse have drawn criticism from several cause groups and human rights organizations.