Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg delivered a strong statement following her detention in the Mediterranean Sea during a humanitarian mission near the Gaza Strip. She accused Israel of abducting her and other members of the initiative in international waters, reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to Reuters.
According to Thunberg, she refused to sign a document before her deportation that claimed she had illegally crossed Israel’s border. Speaking at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, where she was flown on Tuesday, June 10, the activist stated that neither she nor her team had broken any laws. She called for the immediate release of those activists still being held in Israel.
“In my testimony, I clearly stated that we were kidnapped in international waters and forcibly brought to Israel,” Thunberg said.
She also responded to public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who had previously described her as an “angry person.” Thunberg replied by saying that the world needs many more “angry young women,” especially in light of current global events.
Thunberg dismissed suggestions that the mission to the Gaza Strip was a publicity stunt, explaining that a similar previous initiative using a larger vessel had ended after it was shelled.
She added that she now needed rest and that her future plans remain uncertain.
Upon returning to Sweden, Thunberg was met by a large crowd of supporters at Stockholm Arlanda Airport. The 22-year-old activist admitted she feels anxious about what might come next and acknowledged that the risks of the voyage had been clear to all participants.
On June 1, Greta Thunberg and a group of 11 pro-Palestinian activists set sail toward the shores of the Gaza Strip aboard the sailing vessel Madleen, as part of a symbolic humanitarian effort. Among the members of the mission were French Member of the European Parliament Rima Hassan and Brazilian social activist Thiago Ávila.
The organizers of the mission stated that their goal was to break through the maritime blockade that, according to them, Israel has imposed around the coastal enclave, and to draw global attention to the severe humanitarian crisis in the region.
At the same time, the Israeli government had warned in advance that it would not allow such an action to proceed. The vessel faced the threat of interception even before reaching the controlled zone, due to the longstanding maritime blockade enforced in the area.
Earlier we wrote that Israeli military intercepts vessel with Greta Thunberg near Gaza coast.