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Topics: News, Politics, UK News, US News, World News, Greta Thunberg
Rhianna Benson
Topics: News, Politics, UK News, US News, World News, Greta Thunberg
Israel has deported Swedish activist Greta Thunberg after she and her crew were apprehended while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza.
A ship - a British-flagged yacht - carrying the 22-year-old and other members of the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) was incepted on Monday by Israeli forces.
The 12-man crew on board the Madleen had attempted to challenge Israel's naval blockage of the area while raising awareness of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Middle East.
Each crew member was subsequently transported to a port in Israel.
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Thunberg announced that the aid-delivering ship had been captured in a video that went viral on social media.
In said clip, the climate change activist could be heard telling viewers: "My name is Greta Thunberg and I am from Sweden.
"If you see this video, we have been intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces - or forces that support Israel. I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."
The foreign ministry in Israel also confirmed it had intercepted the boat, adding in a statement of its own: "All the passengers of the 'selfie yacht' are safe and unharmed. They were provided sandwiches and water."
Sharing a video of these items being handed out to the intercepted crew, the accompanying caption on the ministry's Instagram page reads: "The show is over."
And in a new update, Israel has since announced it has deported Thunberg, having placing her on a plane that would transport her back to Sweden via France.
In two new photos shared to the ministry's Twitter profile, she could be seen being escorted onto a flight.
Her crew are also expected to be deported to their respective countries today (10 June).
According to the Israeli broadcaster Kan, however, eight of these activists had refused to sign deportation papers, delaying their removal from the Middle East.
The country's foreign ministry wrote on Twitter earlier today: "Those who refuse to sign deportation documents and leave Israel will be brought before a judicial authority, in accordance with Israeli law, to authorise their deportation."
FFC representatives previously accused Israel of 'forcibly intercepting' the Madleen, and acting with 'total impunity' by 'unlawfully boarding' it.
They added that its 'civilian crew' had been 'abducted' while attempting to drop 'life saving cargo' in Gaza - which included 'baby formula, food and medical supplies'.
"These volunteers are not subject to Israeli jurisdiction and cannot be criminalised for delivering aid or challenging an illegal blockade – their detention is arbitrary, unlawful, and must end immediately," FFC organiser Huwaida Arraf told press yesterday.
"Israel has no legal authority to detain international volunteers aboard the Madleen."