Greta Thunberg Deported from Israel After Gaza Flotilla Attempt; Eight Activists Detained
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg was deported from Israel early Tuesday after she and 11 fellow activists were intercepted by Israeli forces while trying to breach the naval blockade of Gaza. Their vessel, the Madleen, sailing under a British flag, was stopped before reaching the Gaza Strip.
According to Israeli media, four of the activists agreed to deportation and returned home. The remaining eight, including French European Parliament Member Rima Hassan, declined to sign deportation documents and were taken into custody. They will be held at the Givon detention facility for up to 96 hours before potentially being deported without their consent, as per Israeli law.
The activists, associated with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, had departed from Italy with a small consignment of humanitarian aid. Israel’s Foreign Ministry criticized the mission, calling it a media stunt rather than a serious relief effort, noting that the aid on board amounted to less than a single truckload.
Israel emphasized that it has facilitated the entry of over 1,200 aid trucks into Gaza in the past two weeks alone, in contrast to the flotilla’s symbolic gesture. The ministry reiterated that the maritime blockade is lawful and in place to prevent weapons smuggling and other threats from groups like Hamas.
Thunberg posted on social media describing her detention as a “kidnapping” by Israeli forces. Former U.S. President Donald Trump reacted dismissively, suggesting she needed “anger management” and calling her “a strange person.”
The Foreign Ministry stated that consular officials from the activists’ countries met them at Ben Gurion Airport. Officials warned that any unauthorized attempt to challenge the blockade is both illegal and dangerous.
Rocket Fired from Gaza Intercepted Near Zikim Beach
The Israeli military intercepted a rocket launched from northern Gaza on Tuesday morning after it triggered warning sirens in the Zikim Beach area, close to the Israel-Gaza border.
The rocket was shot down by Israel’s air defense system, and no injuries or property damage were reported, according to a spokesperson from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Shortly after the incident, IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Lt. Col. Avichay Adraee issued a public warning on social media. He urged residents in northern Gaza to evacuate, stating that the Israeli military would soon carry out a major operation against terrorist elements in the area.
“The IDF will respond forcefully to any act of terrorism or rocket fire,” Adraee emphasized, advising civilians to seek shelter in designated safe zones within Gaza City.
IDF Uncovers and Destroys Explosives Lab in Tulkarem
Israeli forces uncovered and demolished a bomb-making facility in the city of Tulkarem in western Samaria on June 4, as part of a wider counter-terrorism effort. The discovery was announced Monday morning by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Troops found gas canisters and other materials used to manufacture improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Additional sites used for building explosive devices and suicide drones were also located during the operation, the IDF said.
These actions are part of “Operation Iron Wall,” launched in January to dismantle terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria. Defense officials say the initiative marks a significant shift in Israel’s security approach in the region.
The IDF increased its activity in Tulkarem following a failed bombing attempt near Tel Aviv in February, where several buses were targeted. Investigators linked those attacks to the Tulkarem refugee camp.
In related operations over the weekend, the IDF, Shin Bet, and Israeli police arrested 35 wanted individuals across Judea and Samaria. Authorities also seized weapons, military equipment, and substantial sums of money tied to terrorist activity.
Among those arrested were suspects involved in rock-throwing attacks and other forms of violence against Israeli civilians and forces.
According to data from Rescuers Without Borders, Palestinian attacks in Judea and Samaria numbered over 6,300 in 2024 alone, with 27 Israelis killed and more than 300 injured. The incidents included Molotov cocktail attacks, shootings, explosive charges, and attempted arsons.
