Around 137 activists were detained by Israeli forces for taking part in a flotilla carrying aid to Gaza. They were later deported to Turkey. Among them was Greta Thunberg, who, according to fellow activists, was forced to wear an Israeli flag and mistreated during detention.

Israel has not immediately commented on these new allegations. However, its foreign ministry had earlier dismissed reports of mistreatment of detainees as “complete lies.”

At Istanbul Airport, the group of deported activists included 36 Turkish nationals along with citizens from the US, UAE, Algeria, Morocco, Italy, Kuwait, Libya, Malaysia, Mauritania, Switzerland, Tunisia and Jordan, according to Turkish foreign ministry sources.

Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi and American activist Windfield Beaver told Reuters that they saw Greta Thunberg being mistreated during detention, alleging she was shoved and forced to wear an Israeli flag.

Activists described their detention conditions as “inhuman,” saying they were treated “like animals.” “It was a disaster,” said 28-year-old Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi, who alleged that detainees were denied clean food and water, while their medication and belongings were confiscated.

American activist Windfield Beaver, 43, claimed Greta Thunberg was “treated terribly” and “used as propaganda,” adding that she was shoved into a room as Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived.

Israel has faced global criticism after its navy intercepted nearly 40 boats carrying aid to Gaza and detained more than 450 activists. The foreign ministry later wrote on X that all detainees were “safe and in good health” and said deportations would be completed “as quickly as possible.”

In another post, it accused some flotilla members of obstructing the deportation process, but provided no evidence. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.

What Italy's Foreign Minister said

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said 26 Italians from the Gaza aid flotilla landed in Istanbul on a Turkish Airlines flight, while another 15 remain in Israeli custody and are expected to be deported in the coming days along with activists from other countries.

Tajani wrote on X that he had instructed the Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv to ensure the rights of the remaining detainees are respected. A first group of Italians, including four parliamentarians, had already returned to Rome on Friday.

One of them, lawmaker Arturo Scotto, said at a press conference that those on board the flotilla were acting legally, while Israel acted illegally by blocking them. “We were brutally stopped … brutally taken hostage,” added fellow parliamentarian Benedetta Scuderi.

According to Adalah, an Israeli legal rights group assisting detainees, some activists were denied access to lawyers, water, medication and toilets. The group also alleged that detainees were forced to kneel with their hands zip-tied for at least five hours after chanting “Free Palestine.”

Israel strongly rejected these claims. “All of Adalah’s claims are complete lies. All detainees were given access to water, food and restrooms, were not denied legal counsel, and their rights were fully upheld,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told Reuters.

The flotilla, which set sail in late August, was the latest attempt by activists to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza. Israeli officials dismissed the mission as a political stunt and warned participants against violating what it called a “lawful blockade.”