Activists imprisoned after a Gaza-bound flotilla was intercepted on Yom Kippur have accused Israeli authorities of serious mistreatment, with their lawyer Sena Eliküčük preparing to submit a complaint to UN human rights bodies, the Swedish outlet Aftonbladet reports. Eliküčük told the the local press, "I intend to report these violations of human rights to the relevant UN authorities." Israel Hayom has previously reported on a proposal by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to detain her as a terrorist, although it is unclear if plan was ever adopted.
Claims circulating among released detainees include allegations that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg was forced to crawl and kiss the Israeli flag, according to Turkish journalist Ersin Celik in a YouTube video. Israel is being reported to the UN over the activists' prison conditions, notes Aftonbladet. Israel has denied any such mistreatment.
Eliküčük, who has heard similar accounts, emphasized, "These are serious allegations that need to be investigated." Several Swedish activists, including parliamentarian Lorena Delgado Varas, were allegedly denied medication while held at Ketziot Prison, Aftonbladet adds.
Sweden's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which urged Israel to provide adequate care, informed Thunberg's family she had a suspected bed bug bite during detention – a message Eliküčük also received. "They are definitely treated badly," she told TT, and may file a joint ICC complaint.
Eliküčük also criticized Sweden's response, telling Aftonbladet, "I have not received any details about the Swedish prisoners from either the Foreign Ministry or the Swedish embassy in Tel Aviv. It is important that all abuses that occur in Israeli custody are officially reported to me." Lawyer Suhad Bishara, who spoke to Aftonbladet about alleged prison abuses, stated, "Greta is not treated well, that's the least you can say."
The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued the following statement on X: "The claims regarding the mistreatment of Greta Thunberg and other detainees from the Hamas–Sumud flotilla are brazen lies. All the detainees' legal rights are fully upheld. Interestingly enough, Greta herself and other detainees refused to expedite their deportation and insisted on prolonging their stay in custody. Greta also did not complain to the Israeli authorities about any of these ludicrous and baseless allegations – because they never occurred."
