Greta Thunberg leaves Israel on flight to Paris

(Patria) - Swedish climate and human rights activist Greta Thunberg left Israel on Tuesday on a flight to France after being detained by Israeli forces along with other activists on a humanitarian aid boat heading for Gaza.

"Greta Thunberg has just left Israel on a flight to Sweden (via France)," the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs wrote in a post on X, accompanied by two photos of the young activist on a plane.

At least five crew members, who were also detained on the aid ship Madleen on Monday, refused to leave voluntarily and will be deported, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs stated on Tuesday.

"Last night, our consul had the opportunity to see six French citizens arrested by the Israeli authorities. Their families have been contacted. One of them agreed to leave voluntarily and is expected to return today. The other five will be deported," Jean-Noël Barrot wrote in a post on X.

One of the French citizens detained by Israel on Monday is Rima Hassan, a Member of the European Parliament.

"In recent days and hours, the President of the European Parliament has been in constant contact with the Israeli authorities... to ensure the safety of MEP Rima Hassan, who was one of the people on the Madleen ship, and all those who accompanied her," European Parliament spokesperson Delphine Colard said on Monday.

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously stated that anyone who refused to sign deportation documents and leave Israel would be brought before the judicial authorities to approve their deportation.

The detained crew of the aid ship for Gaza, intercepted by Israel on Monday morning, docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod on Monday evening, according to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Madleen is part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an organization that fights against the Israeli blockade of Gaza and attempts to break the siege by sea.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) stated that the Israeli army "attacked" and "unlawfully boarded" the Madleen ship, which was attempting to deliver aid to Gaza – where over 600 days of war and an 11-week Israeli blockade have pushed the enclave's 2.1 million inhabitants even deeper into a hunger crisis.

Amnesty International also condemned the detention of the activists.

On March 2, Israel imposed a complete humanitarian blockade on Gaza, cutting off supplies of food, medical supplies, and other aid to the more than 2 million Palestinians living in the territory for 11 weeks.