Greta Thunberg has been deported from Israel after the Gaza-bound aid ship she was on was seized by the country’s military.
The 22-year-old climate campaigner was one of a dozen people aboard the British-flagged yacht Madleen, which set sail from Sicily on 1 May on a mission aiming to break Israel’s sea blockade of Gaza.
Israel’s foreign ministry confirmed it had seized the vessel and brought it to shore on Monday, saying the passengers were “undergoing medical examinations to ensure they are in good health”.
In a post on X, the ministry shared a photo of Thunberg on a plane and said she was flying to Sweden via France.
Adalah, a legal rights group in Israel representing the 12 Madleen passengers, said Thunberg, two other activists and a journalist had agreed to be deported and leave Israel.
Read more:
Who were the passengers on the Madleen yacht?
Other activists who refused deportation were being held in detention, Adalah added, and their case was set to be heard by Israeli authorities.
Who is on board the ‘diverted’ Gaza aid boat with Greta Thunberg?
Gaza-bound aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg and other activists brought to Israel
IDF told to ‘take whatever measures necessary’ to stop Greta Thunberg aid boat from reaching Gaza
The pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) – which was operating the yacht – said at around 1am that the group were “expected to be moved to the Ramleh detention facility unless they agree to leave immediately”.
The group added: “We continue to demand the immediate release of all volunteers and the return of the stolen aid. Their detention is unlawful and a violation of international law.”
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Three paramedics killed in Gaza City – Hamas
It comes after Hamas said in a statement that three paramedics were killed in an Israeli attack in al-Tuffah, Gaza City.
The militant group called it a “war crime” and said: “Targeting those who aid victims represents an unprecedented level of brutality and criminality, and reveals the occupation’s efforts to stifle all means of survival and rescue in Gaza.”
It also comes as local health authorities Israeli gunfire killed at least 17 Palestinians and wounded dozens of others at an aid distribution site of the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in central Gaza.
The Israeli military said they are looking into the incident. Last week it warned Palestinians not to approach routes leading to GHF sites between 6pm and 6am local time, describing these roads as closed military zones.
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