The Swedish campaigner Claims Difficult Circumstances in Israel's Confinement

Environmental campaigner the Swedish activist has notified her country's diplomats that she is subjected to unacceptable treatment while detained by the Israeli government, based on communications reviewed.

This correspondence also suggest that another detainee reported Israeli forces captured images of the activist while she was allegedly compelled to hold symbols, the meaning of which remains unidentified.

Detention Environment Reported

Through a message written by the Swedish foreign ministry to associates of the activist, an diplomat who met with her in detention reported she spoke of being held in a cell filled with pests, with insufficient provisions.

“The embassy met with Greta,” says the communication. “She informed us of lack of water. She has had access to insufficient amounts of both hydration and nutrition. She also stated that she had experienced skin irritation which she thinks were due to bedbugs. She mentioned harsh treatment and said she had been forced to sit for extended times on uncomfortable floors.”

“A second individual reportedly informed different diplomats that they had seen her [the activist] being made to display symbols while images were taken. She wondered whether photos of her had been circulated,” the representative added.

Context of the Aid Mission

The activist is one of a large group including parliamentarians, legal experts, and advocates who are part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, a group of more than 40 vessels carrying relief supplies with the purpose of breaching Israel’s longstanding maritime blockade of Gaza.

Recently, authorities seized every vessel and took into custody all participants. The majority of them are being held at Ketziot, also called a high-security location, a detention site in the arid area used primarily to confine individuals from the region, many of whom the government accuses of engaging in security-related offenses.

Judicial Concerns and Previous Events

Historically, campaigners detained by the government were not tried and instead their participation was treated as an immigration matter.

Based on lawyers from the rights organization, the protections of the participants have been “systematically violated”, stating that activists were denied water, sanitation, treatment, and quick entry to their attorneys, “in clear breach of their core protections to due process, fair hearing and attorney access”.

Legal representatives acting for the group stated those arrested were left “for extended periods without provisions – until recently”, with the omission of “some chips provided to Greta and presented to the cameras.” Lawyers also reported cases of verbal and physical abuse.

Political Remarks and Reactions

During a visit to Ashdod on the evening, Israel’s nationalist political figure, the politician, was seen labeling the individuals “extremists” as he stood in front of them.

“These individuals are militants of the group,” he said, in his native tongue and pointing at a large group sitting on the ground. An aide confirmed the video was shot at Ashdod port on that day.

Some activists were heard shouting: “Liberate the region.”

The minister has previously pushed for the detainees to be imprisoned rather than expelled.

Previous Detentions and Handling

Subsequent to being taken into custody, the attorneys representing the mission voiced worry over the treatment the activists might face, particularly those who had earlier been detained by Israeli authorities after tries to break Gaza’s naval blockade. This marks the second time the activist has been arrested with other crew, after a similar attempt in the past resulted in the detention of participants and deportation.

A medical professional, who was on one of the boats of the Flotilla in the summer, informed the media upon his coming back that he observed authorities taunt and deliberately deprive passengers of sleep, in particular the activist.

Administrative Procedures and Forms

The diplomat noted in the message that the activist was instructed by Israeli authorities to approve a form.

“She expressed uncertainty about what the form represented and did not want to endorse any paperwork she did not grasp,” states the message. The diplomat wrote that Thunberg has had access to a lawyer.

Adalah said in an earlier statement about the legal process that although Israeli authorities would have a history of repeat participants in humanitarian missions, activists, such as Thunberg, were usually dealt with in the identical manner as those without prior involvement, facing short-term detention and deportation.

Inquiries were made to the corrections system, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the diplomatic corps, but none has yet responded.