New Delhi: Greta Thunberg has departed from Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport for Sweden via France, the Israel foreign ministry has said, nearly 24 hours after after detention. Greta was among the 12 activists detained by Israeli forces on the seas while sailing towards Gaza on the Freedom Flotilla Coalition boat, Madleen, with humanitarian aid.
Israel offered the activists a chance to sign deportation papers and leave for home. The activists met with the consuls of their countries at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday, the ministry said in a post on X. However, the ones who refused to sign and leave Israel will appear before “a judicial authority”, which will “authorise their deportation”, the ministry post further said.
Four activists, including Greta, are departing Israel, whereas eight refused and will be transferred to the Givon detention facility in Ramleh, Israel, reported The Jerusalem Post.
The French Member of European Parliament (MEP), Rima Hassan, who has Palestinian origins, is among the eight who would be held back.
Greta Thunberg just departed Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France). pic.twitter.com/kWrI9KVoqX
— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) June 10, 2025
Taking a line different from Israel’s, French assembly deputy Clémence Guetté from Rima Hassan’s La France Insoumise party, said on X, “Do not listen to the Israeli propaganda… The French of the #FreedomFlotilla, including Rima, did not refuse to be repatriated to France…They refused to sign a document in which they had to acknowledge having entered Israeli territory illegally, a condition set by Israel for their release.”
The activists and the Freedom Flotilla Coalition have maintained that Israel did not have legal authority to enforce a maritime closure on Gaza, and therefore, the interception of the Madleen constitutes a maritime law violation and a defiance of the International Court of Justice’s orders to allow unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza.
Earlier, a press statement by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition said: “They are expected to be moved to the Ramleh detention facility unless they agree to leave immediately, in which case they may be permitted to fly out of Tel Aviv as early as tonight. We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid. Their detention is unlawful and a violation of international law.”
The Madleen reached the Ashdod port nearly 18 hours after the Israeli forces seized the boat. Israel Defence Minister Israel Katz has reportedly told The Times of Israel that there was a screening of the 7 October massacre for the activists, but they “refused to continue watching”. Their reaction proved they were “antisemitic” and “ignore Hamas atrocities”, Katz has reportedly claimed.
The Madleen mission came after another Freedom Flotilla boat, the Conscience, made a similar attempt to reach Gaza in May this year with Greta Thunberg on board but was left damaged in a drone attack, allegedly by Israel.
The Madleen, which has gained the international spotlight, has now inspired a global march of pro-Palestinian protesters from across countries, who will now walk through Egypt to reach the Rafah border and attempt to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. The march to the southern Gaza Strip’s Rafah starts on 15 June.
Reactions to detention: From the US to France
On 9 June, Israeli forces raided the Madleen and detained the 12 activists—foreign nationals from Spain, France, Sweden, and Turkey.
US President Donald Trump, when asked about the detention of Greta Thunberg, said: “I don’t know if her anger is real. I think she has to go to an anger management class.” He added: “I think Israel has enough problems without kidnapping Greta Thunberg.”
Calling for the release of Spanish national Sergio Toribio and the other hostages, Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz condemned the Israeli action as a “violation of international law” and demanded that the European Union give a “clear and firm response”. Spain reportedly summoned the Israeli ambassador to register its protest as well.
Though no Irish citizen was on board the Madleen, Ireland also summoned the Israeli ambassador, and Tánaiste of Ireland Simon Harris labelled the Israeli detention of the activists “utterly unacceptable”, the Anadolu news agency reported.
Turkey did not summon the ambassador but reportedly demanded the release of activists, including Turkish citizen Şuayb Ordu.
France stated it was working to ensure the “swift return” of the six French nationals who had been on board the Madleen, Anadolu reported. French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been busy with the United Nations Oceans Conference in Nice, has said the French activists should “be allowed to return to France as soon as possible”, reported Le Monde.
Many, including the leader of Rima Hassan’s party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, have been criticising France’s response to the Israeli action as insufficient. “By what right has Netanyahu forcibly detained a French MP for 30 hours? By what right does he demand that the prisoners sign a document to admit that they entered Israeli territory illegally?! Rima rightly refused…We demand that France be respected.”
Moreover, pro-Palestinian protesters are still occupying the Place de la République in Paris, demanding Rima Hassan’s release, in response to her call to take to the streets in case of her detention.
Sweden’s reaction was relatively muted, with Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard reportedly saying that she did not believe Greta Thunberg needed help.
Also Read: En route Gaza, Madleen with Greta Thunberg on board rescues Sudanese war refugees