Greta Thunberg speaks out for first time about alleged ‘torturous’ mistreatment while detained in Israel
Greta Thunberg has spoken out about the alleged abuse she experienced after being detained by Israel.
The Swedish activist was one of many detained by Israeli forces after taking part in the Freedom Flotilla, which aimed to deliver aid to Palestinians who were under blockade in the Gaza Strip.
However, the 40 vessels were ultimately intercepted at the start of this month, with prominent figures such as Thunberg detained in Israeli prisons, including Ketziot prison, a large detention camp used to hold Palestinian prisoners and suspected terrorists, in the Negev desert.
Thunberg was released from detention several days later, following reports of alleged abuse at the hands of guards. She has now spoken publicly to Swedish outlet Aftonbladet, claiming that she had been beaten by guards and her luggage graffitied.
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"The guards have no empathy or humanity, and they keep taking selfies with me. There's a lot I don't remember," Thunberg recalled.
"They dragged me to the opposite side from where the others were sitting, and I had the flag around me the whole time. They hit and kicked me."
Thunberg continued: "So much is happening at once. You're in shock. You're in pain, but you go into a state of trying to stay calm.
"I saw maybe 50 people sitting in a row on their knees with handcuffs and their foreheads against the ground,"
She went on to allege that Israeli guards had 'taken selfies' with her, saying: "My hands were put in cable ties, very tight. A bunch of guards lined up to take selfies with me as I sat there."
Thunberg claimed the detainees from the flotilla were at one point put in a cage and threatened to be 'gassed' by guards.
"Then guards came and said, “We are going to gas you.” It was standard for them to say that. They held up a gas cylinder and threatened to press it against us," she added.
Upon receiving her luggage back while being deported, Thunberg learnt that it had been covered in graffiti by guards, which included images of the Israeli flag, an erect penis and the words 'Wh**e Greta'.
Despite her alleged ordeal, Thunberg has stated that she doesn't want her treatment to detract from the plight of Palestinians, particularly those who've suffered from the famine in Gaza due to Israel's two year military campaign in the exclave.
"Personally, I don't want to share what I was subjected to because I don't want it to make headlines and 'Greta has been tortured," she insisted. "Because that's not the story here."
Following a peace deal struck between Israel and Hamas, food and humanitarian aid should be allowed into Gaza.
LADbible Media Group contacted the Swedish Foreign Ministry for comment.
Topics: Greta Thunberg, Israel, World News, Palestine
Brenna Cooper