Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of "kidnapping" her and fellow pro-Palestinian activists in international waters, following her deportation after the Israeli navy intercepted their Gaza-bound vessel. The 22-year-old activist made the allegations while speaking to journalists at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, where she arrived following her expulsion from Israel.
France 24 reported that Thunberg told media outlets she refused to sign documentation stating she had entered Israel illegally before her deportation. The Swedish campaigner maintained that she and her team had violated no laws during their attempted voyage to Gaza, which was halted when Israeli naval forces boarded their charity vessel early Monday.
Video: Greta Thunberg on a plane taking her from Israel / Credit: Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Article 27a
According to France 24, Thunberg declared during her testimony that the group had been seized against their will while in international waters. "I was very clear in my testimony that we were kidnapped on international water and brought against our will into Israel," the activist stated to reporters at the French airport.
"This is yet another violation of international rights, adding to the list of countless of such, especially towards Palestinians, that Israel is committing by blocking and preventing humanitarian aid from entering Gaza. That is illegal," Thunberg told Reuters.
Video: The flotilla participants are being provided with food and water
US President Donald Trump recently called Thunberg a "young, angry person" with "anger issues" when asked about her. The environmental campaigner responded: "Well, I think the world needs a lot more young, angry women to be honest."
Thunberg arrived in Paris approximately 24 hours after the initial confrontation with Israeli naval forces. The activist had joined other pro-Palestinian campaigners aboard the charity vessel in what appeared to be a deliberate effort to challenge Israel's maritime restrictions around Gaza.
