The Swedish government has denied diplomatic assistance to climate activist Greta Thunberg, who has been detained along with 11 others by the Israeli military following the seizure of the Madleen ship in international waters off Gaza.
In response to Thunberg’s SOS calls on social media, Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard said that their assessment of the Madleen situation suggests that the activist is safe.
"If she needs consular support, we will do everything we can, as we do with all Swedish citizens," she said.
The minister criticised Thunberg for her call on social media to "put pressure on the Swedish government," after which the activist's supporters began calling the Foreign Ministry.
"It is quite dangerous to conduct a campaign that leads to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' consular hotline being disconnected. The consequence of this is that Swedes who need help abroad are forced to wait in line for too long,” the minister said.
While meetings between the crew, legal team, and diplomatic representative were scheduled to take place, no confirmation on their whereabouts is available.
A legal representative of the detained crew initially reported that they were “being held in a detention facility at Ben Gurion International Airport,” where they were expected to face judicial hearings and eventual deportation.
The Israeli Ministry announced on X that some of them were expected to leave the country in a few hours after their initial detention. But all of 12 activists have received no information on the same.
The ministry said that “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.”
In response to the international public pressure, the ministry also posted a message suggesting that the crew members are “safe and in good spirits” while under Israeli detention, denying any allegations of harm or assault.
As a result, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) has launched a social media campaign releasing all relevant embassy details from Israel, urging mobilisation and support for the immediate release of the 12 FFC crew members.
They have further demanded that the aid stolen by Israel from the ship be returned alongside the activists, and that the delivery be made in Gaza.
Additionally, the Belgium-based Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a war crimes complaint against the Israeli Navy, citing that the Israeli raid and arrest of the Madleen crew in international waters was illegal.
While the crew members remain unreachable, comments from other relevant governments, including France, Germany, Brazil, and Turkey, are awaited.
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