Greta Thunberg Cheered in Athens After Israeli Detention
ATHENS:
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrived in Greece on Monday to a cheering pro-Palestinian crowd. She returned with hundreds of other activists who were deported by Israel after trying to deliver aid to Gaza by sea.
Mass Deportation from Israel
Israel deported 171 activists on Monday, including Thunberg. This brought the total deported to 341 out of 479 people detained during the flotilla operation. The activists had attempted to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said 161 activists arrived in Athens. The group included 22 foreigners, including Thunberg, 27 Greeks, and citizens from nearly 20 other countries.
Thunberg Speaks Out
At the Athens airport, Thunberg addressed the crowd:
“Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on. Our international systems are betraying Palestinians. They are not even able to prevent the worst war crimes from happening. Our aim with the Global Sumud Flotilla was to act when our governments failed to fulfill their legal obligations.”
Humanitarian Mission
The activists sailed in multiple vessels to deliver aid and draw attention to Gaza’s humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, most of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents have been displaced, and hunger is widespread.
Israel rejected the genocide claims and said reports of hunger are exaggerated. It also called the flotilla a publicity stunt benefiting Hamas. Thunberg had been detained previously in June during a similar attempt to breach the blockade.
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