Israel's Foreign Ministry denied allegations on Sunday that Swedish activist Greta Thunberg and other detainees from a Gaza flotilla have been mistreated since their arrests on September 23. The ministry labeled reports claiming Thunberg was held in a bedbug-infested cell with inadequate food and water as "brazen lies." Officials stated that the legal rights of all detainees are fully respected at Ketziot Prison.

The ministry's statement noted that Thunberg and other detainees chose not to expedite their deportation, opting instead to extend their stay in custody. An embassy official from the Swedish Foreign Ministry, who visited Thunberg, reported that she claimed mistreatment in Israel, including being forced to hold flags, although the nature of the flags was not specified. The Israeli Foreign Ministry emphasized that Thunberg did not raise any complaints about these allegations to Israeli authorities, asserting that the claims were unfounded.

In a previous statement, the ministry indicated that it was working to expedite the deportation of approximately 500 participants arrested off the Gaza coast. However, it noted that some detainees were obstructing the legal process, preferring to remain in Israel. The ministry also mentioned that several foreign governments were hesitant to accept flights for the return of these activists, but it pledged to deport the remaining individuals as quickly as possible.

Over the weekend, Israel deported 137 participants of the flotilla to Turkey. The ministry accused the activists of prioritizing provocation over humanitarian aid, stating that their actions and refusal to accept peaceful transfer proposals indicated their alignment with Hamas.

The Israeli military revealed that the operation on September 23 involved multiple Navy units, including commandos and missile boats, and intercepted 42 vessels. The flotilla, named the Global Sumud Flotilla, aimed to challenge the naval blockade on Gaza, which Israel maintains is necessary to prevent the entry of weapons and terrorists. The blockade has been in place since January 3, 2009.

In June, Israel had previously blocked another flotilla, which Thunberg also participated in, resulting in her being banned from Israel for 100 years. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the Israel Prison Service, expressed pride in the treatment of the flotilla activists, stating, "Whoever supports terrorism is a terrorist and deserves the conditions of terrorists." He commended the prison service for adhering to the policies he and the chief commissioner outlined, asserting that he witnessed no humanitarian efforts from the activists during their actions at sea.