Israel: Thunberg and Gaza ship activists head home

After their Gaza sailing boat was stopped by Israeli authorities, Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her companions are on their way back to their respective home countries, according to Israeli sources. "The passengers of the 'selfie yacht' have arrived at Ben Gurion Airport to leave Israel and return to their home countries," the Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Tuesday via the online service X. Those who refused to sign the deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority.

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The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the organization responsible for the Madleen's voyage, announced that all twelve activists would be "transferred to the custody of the Israeli authorities." "They may be allowed to fly out of Tel Aviv as early as this evening," it said online.

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The Israeli Foreign Ministry had previously announced that the "celebrities' 'selfie yacht'" was now anchored in Israel after being intercepted by the Israeli Navy. "The tiny amount of aid on the yacht that was not consumed by the 'celebrities' is now being brought to the Gaza Strip through legitimate aid channels," it added. In a video released by the Foreign Ministry, the activists can be seen wearing orange life jackets.

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The sailing ship of the so-called "Freedom Flotilla" set sail from Sicily toward the Gaza Strip just over a week ago. Thunberg's crew wanted to bring humanitarian aid through the Israeli naval blockade into the Gaza Strip. Thunberg had repeatedly participated in pro-Palestinian protests. 

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Independently of the war in the Gaza Strip, Israel maintains a strict sea-lock on the Palestinian territory. This security measure was introduced in 2007 after the Islamist Hamas took power and is officially supported by Egypt, which borders the coastal strip to the south. It is intended to prevent arms deliveries to Hamas.