People close to Greta Thunberg are claiming the environmental activist is facing brutalization by Israeli authorities.
The 22-year-old, who cut her political teeth as an environmental activist before refocusing on the Israeli war against Hamas, was taken into custody by Israeli authorities after attempting to reach Gaza by a flotilla.
She has reportedly told Swedish officials that she is being subjected to “harsh treatment” in an Israeli prison facility.
The Guardian reports:
In an email sent by the Swedish foreign ministry to people close to Thunberg, and seen by the Guardian, an official who has visited the activist in prison said she claimed she was detained in a cell infested with bedbugs, with too little food and water.
“The embassy has been able to meet with Greta,” reads the email. “She informed of dehydration. She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes which she suspects were caused by bedbugs. She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.”
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The allegation was corroborated by at least two other members of the flotilla who had been detained by Israeli forces and released on Saturday.
“They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others,” the Turkish activist ErsinÇelik, a participant in the Sumud flotilla, told Anadolu news agency.
Greta Thunberg has now been detained by Israel twice.
Both times she has appeared happier than ever with a wide smile on her face.
She claims Israel “abducted” her against her will.
She claims Israel subjected her to inhumane treatment.
But her smile tells a different story. pic.twitter.com/z3mHuvs5EC
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) October 4, 2025
Thunberg was one of 437 activists, lawmakers, and lawyers taking part in the Global Sumud flotilla — a coalition of more than 40 aid vessels that set out to challenge Israel’s 16-year naval blockade of Gaza.
Greta Thunberg says she’s been abducted again
She’s apparently the first “abductee” in history whose captors gave her access to a phone, all her social media accounts, and served her three meals a day while holding her. pic.twitter.com/0yNddDuBLO
— Terrence K. Williams (@w_terrence) October 4, 2025
Between Thursday and Friday, Israeli forces intercepted the entire fleet, detaining all those on board.
Most of those arrested are currently being held at Ketziot Prison, also known as Ansar III, a high-security facility in the Negev Desert that typically houses Palestinian security detainees accused of terrorist activity.
Israel releases new pictures of Greta and her Gaza Flotilla friends being transported to Israel (from the sea to the river)
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 2, 2025