Greta Thunberg ‘Held In Cell With Bedbugs And Made To Kiss The Israeli Flag’
Greta Thunberg has claimed she is being held in a cell infested with bedbugs with little food and water while in Israeli custody, reports the Guardian.
The 22-year-old activist told Swedish officials about the harsh conditions, which included dehydration and sitting ‘for long periods on hard surfaces’.
Other detainees, who have since been freed, have claimed that Greta was dragged by her hair and beaten in front of them, accusations which the Israeli embassy has called ‘complete lies’.
The Guardian says it’s seen correspondence from Swedish officials detailing a visit to Greta in her prison cell (surprised Israel allowed this, to be fair).
The email reads: ‘The embassy has been able to meet with Greta. She informed of dehydration.
‘She has received insufficient amounts of both water and food. She also stated that she had developed rashes, which she suspects were caused by bedbugs.
‘She spoke of harsh treatment and said she had been sitting for long periods on hard surfaces.’
The official also discusses the report of another detainee, who said ‘they had seen her [Thunberg] being forced to hold flags while pictures were taken.’
Furthermore, Turkish activist Ersin Celik, who was released from detention on Saturday, told Anadolu news agency:
‘They dragged little Greta [Thunberg] by her hair before our eyes, beat her, and forced her to kiss the Israeli flag. They did everything imaginable to her, as a warning to others.’
Now obviously there’s no evidence or means of categorically confirming whether this is true or not, but if it is true, you have to admit it’s incredibly f***ed up, no matter what your feelings are on Greta Thunberg. An autistic, social justice-obsessed 22-year-old who’s just trying to float some food and supplies over to the Palestinians in the midst of a famine. Why would anyone want to stop that, let alone punish her physically for it?
The first time she tried this, Israel stuck her on a plane and sent her back to Sweden, but this time it seems they want to hold her in detention a little longer. However they’re treating her in there, will it be enough to put her off attempting a voyage to Gaza a third time? She must already know it would prove unsuccessful, but apparently feels its worth the headlines and attention it brings to the matter.
Greta was among 437 activists who were intercepted by Israeli military forces while attempting to deliver aid to Gaza on board the Global Sumud flotilla.
Many of the detainees, including Greta, are being held at Ketziot prison, which is also used to hold Palestinian prisoners.
For the time Joey Barton faced ‘nonce’ accusations over his weird Tweet about Greta Thunberg, click HERE.
