Greta Thunberg pictured 'on plane back to Sweden' as 8 activists remain in Israel

The 12 'freedom flotilla' activists were allegedly forced to watch 43 minutes of 'uncensored' footage from the October 7 Hamas massacre but were said to have closed their eyes when it started

Climate change activist icon Greta Thunberg is on a plane back to her native Sweden after her attempt to bring aid to Gaza via the 'freedom flotilla'.

The 22-year-old was one of 12 pro-Palestine crew members on board the 'Madleen' when it was intercepted by Israeli forces on Monday night. Images of the crew accepting bread and water from the body armour-clad Israel Defence Forces (IDF) personnel spread like wild fire on social media.

After being arrested, the activists and their boat were taken to the Israeli port city of Ashdod. Greta and three others signed the deportation papers allowing them to be sent home while eight refused and will stay in Israel.

"I do more good outside of Israel than if I am forced to stay here for a few weeks," Greta said according to her lawyer Moatasem Zedan who also represents the other activists.

"If we choose to stay here against the will of the Israeli authorities and are arrested for a few weeks, it will harm our cause."

The group met their lawyers on Tuesday morning, Zedan told Swedish outlet Expressen. There was a consensus among the group that everyone would refuse to sign the deportation papers before four changed their minds.

The activists were also allegedly forced to watch "uncensored" footage from the October 7 massacre carried out by Hamas forces. Israel's defence minister said the 'freedom flotilla' crew refused to watch the video as he called them "antisemitic" again.

Israel Katz told the Jerusalem Post: "These antisemitic flotilla activists closed their eyes to the truth and once again proved they prefer the murderers over the victims.

"They continue to ignore the atrocities committed by Hamas against Jewish and Israeli women, the elderly, and children.”

In a seemingly pre-recorded video released around the time the 'freedom flotilla' was intercepted, Thunberg claimed she was being "kidnapped" by Israeli forces. A short time later she was pictured smiling while being offered bread by a member of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

She said: "My name is Greta Thunberg, and I am from Sweden. If you see this video, we are being intercepted and kidnapped in international waters by the Israeli occupational forces, or forces that support Israel.

"I urge all my friends, family and comrades to put pressure on the Swedish government to release me and the others as soon as possible."

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