Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, who was arrested by Israeli forces during the Global Sumud Flotilla’s interception, has condemned world governments for continuing to enable what she called Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Thunberg made the remarks upon her arrival in Greece on Monday, following her release from Israeli detention.
The 45-vessel flotilla, which included activists and politicians, had departed from Spain last month in an effort to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of impending famine. The flotilla was intercepted by the Israeli navy, with commandos boarding several boats and detaining participants.
Among those on board was former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who remains in Israeli custody.
In her first public comments since being freed, Thunberg stressed that the focus should not be on her detention but on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
“The Global Sumud Flotilla was the biggest-ever attempt to break Israel’s illegal and inhumane siege by sea,” Thunberg said. “It is a story of global solidarity — of people stepping up when our governments fail to do so.”
She accused world leaders of failing their moral and legal obligations, adding:
“Under international law, states have a duty to act to stop a genocide — to end complicity, apply real pressure, and halt arms transfers. Yet we are not even seeing the bare minimum from our governments.”
Greta Thunberg, 170 other Gaza aid activists deported by Israel
Thunberg said that the mission’s very existence was “a shame,” calling Israel’s blockade illegal and inhumane, and condemning its restrictions on humanitarian aid.
“Our international systems are betraying Palestinians,” she said. “They are not even able to stop the worst war crimes from happening.”
Thunberg also revealed that she endured mistreatment while in Israeli custody but emphasized that her personal experience was secondary.
“This is not the story,” she said. “The story is Israel continuing to escalate its genocide — attempting to erase an entire population before our very eyes.”
