A special repatriation flight from Israel arrived in Athens today, carrying more than 160 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla who were detained by Israeli authorities. Among them are 27 Greek citizens as well as nationals from France, Italy, Germany and other European countries. Climate activist Greta Thunberg is also aboard. Family members, friends and supporters had gathered at Athens International Airport to await their arrival and welcome the activists home.
According to a statement by the Greek Foreign Ministry: “Under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Greek Embassy in Tel Aviv, a special repatriation flight safely arrived in Athens carrying 27 Greek citizens who participated in the ‘Global Sumud Flotilla’. This flight also facilitated the transport of 134 citizens from 15 European countries.”
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg walks through Ramon International Airport before her deportation flight, near Eilat, Israel, after Israel intercepted the vessels of the Global Sumud Flotilla aiming to reach Gaza and break Israel’s naval blockade, October 6, 2025 /Israel Foreign Ministry.
The detainees were among hundreds of international activists who participated in the flotilla aiming to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza. So far, 137 activists have been deported out of approximately 470 who took part in the mission.
The repatriation flight, coordinated by Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, follows requests from several European governments for assistance in securing the return of their citizens. A Greek diplomatic officer is accompanying the group. The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously issued a strong diplomatic protest to Israel following remarks by an Israeli minister that were reportedly critical of the Greek citizens involved in the flotilla.
Twenty-seven Greek citizens arrested by Israel during the Global Sumud Flotilla’s attempt to reach Gaza are repatriated at Athens International Airport, October 6, 2025. Their return followed Greek diplomatic efforts after days of detention in prisons in Israel’s Negev desert. (Tatiana Bolaris/Eurokinissi)
Several deported activists have described what they said was degrading or violent treatment during their detention. Italian activist Cesare Tofani told Italy’s ANSA news agency that detainees “were treated terribly … From the army, we moved on to the police. There was harassment.” Yassine Lafram, president of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy, told Corriere della Sera that activists were “treated violently, with weapons pointed at us,” calling it “absolutely unacceptable in a country that considers itself democratic.” Italian journalist Saverio Tommasi told the Associated Press that Israeli soldiers withheld medicine and mocked detainees, including Thunberg”. Other activists described humiliation and stress, including being kedeprived of food, or forced to drink from toilet water. Some reports alleged that Thunberg herself was mistreated, including being dragged on the ground and forced to kiss the Israeli flag.
One of the Spanish activists who was part of the Global Sumud Flotilla and was detained by Israeli forces, gesture next to Police officers upon arrival at Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas Airport in Madrid, Spain, October 5, 2025. REUTERS/Juan Medina
Israel has strongly denied these accounts. The Foreign Ministry called the allegations “brazen lies”. But far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is responsible for prisons said according to the “Times of Israel” that he was “proud that we are treating the ‘flotilla activists’ as terror supporters, whoever supports terrorism is a terrorist, and deserves the conditions of terrorists”.
