Israel forces mistreat Greta Thunberg; force to “kiss Israeli flag”
text_fields
Tel Aviv: Reports are suggesting that Israeli forces who detained the activists aboard the flotilla critically mistreated the detainees, including renowned climate activist Greta Thunberg. According to Turkish journalist and Gaza Sumud Flotilla participant Ersin Celik, Israeli forces “tortured” Thunberg, dragged her on the ground and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag, Al Jazeera reported.
According to an activist, Thunberg was “terribly treated” and “used as a propaganda”. He said that she was shoved into a room as far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived.
Italian journalist Lorenzo Agostino related that the 22-year-old “brave woman” was humiliated and wrapped in an Israeli flag and ultimately exhibited like a trophy.
Another detainee, namely Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi, said that Thunberg was shoved and paraded with an Israeli flag.
Following Israel forces intercepting an aid flotilla, detaining them and deporting them, 137 of them landed in Istanbul on Saturday. They include 36 Turkish nationals along with activists from the United States, Italy, Malaysia, Kuwait, Switzerland, Tunisia, Libya, Jordan and other countries.
Hazwani Helmi told reporters at Istanbul airport, “It was a disaster.” He said that those who detained them treated them like animals, denying them food, clean water and medication.
According to Turkish TV presenter Ikbar Gurpinar, Israeli forces collectively treated detainees like dogs, leaving them hungry for three days. They did not provide them with water and were forced to drink from toilets. One of the days was terribly hot, and “we were all roasting”. She added that what she had gone through gave her “a better understanding of Gaza”.
An Israeli rights group, Adalah, which provides legal aid, said that detainees were even forced to kneel with zip-tied hands for hours.
Though Israel is yet to comment on allegations by the activists who landed in Istanbul on Saturday, it has dubbed Adalah’s statements as complete lies.