Greta Thunberg is back in Sweden after being detained in Israel.
Now, she’s revealing a shocking and offensive word that was written on her suitcase, amid her claims of mistreatment during captivity.
Greta’s nightmare
Greta Thunberg, the 22-year-old Swedish climate activist, was detained in Israel in early October after joining a flotilla of over 40 vessels carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, defying Israel’s long-standing naval blockade.
The Israeli Navy intercepted the ships, taking Thunberg, Mandla Mandela (Nelson Mandela’s grandson), and several European politicians into custody.
According to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet, Greta has had some trouble sleeping since returning from Israel.
She lives in a shared house, and on her first night back, she slept through the entire night for the first time in who knows how long. But on the second night, she only managed about half an hour of sleep after a nightmare about bombed boats woke her up. It’s clear that she is quite shaken.
“My brain doesn’t work like it usually does,” she told Aftonbladet.
”Confined in metal cages”
In the interview, Thunberg described being held in sweltering conditions and witnessing other detainees restrained on the ground.
According to Greta, she was kicked by guards while others were beaten to the ground.
“They roughly shoved me into a corner, facing the wall. ‘A special place for a special lady,’ they said.
According to Greta, the guards had picked up Swedish insults and repeatedly called her a “whore.”
Thunberg described her time in detention as terrifying and surreal. Detainees were confined in metal cages, forced to stand overnight, and threatened with gas. She added that guards regularly disrupted sleep by shaking cell bars and shining flashlights.
”The guards completely lack empathy and humanity, and they kept taking selfies with me. There’s a lot I don’t remember — so much was happening at once. You’re in a state of shock. You’re in pain, but you enter a stage where you try to stay calm.”
She also claimed that Israeli guards had scrawled “Whore Greta” in large black marker on her suitcase, surrounding it with a drawing of an Israeli flag and an erect penis. Thunberg says the officers mocked her while drinking water as she “begged” for relief in 40°C heat.
Israel’s answer
Israel’s Foreign Ministry strongly denied Thunberg’s claims. In a statement to The Telegraph, they said:
”All of her legal rights were fully upheld. Interestingly enough, Greta herself refused to expedite her deportation and insisted on prolonging her stay in custody. She also never lodged any complaint with the Israeli authorities regarding these ludicrous and baseless allegations, because they simply never happened.”
The ministry added that Thunberg was treated according to international law and was safely deported on October 6.
Gaza flotilla and blockade warnings
The humanitarian flotilla set sail in August 2025, carrying more than 500 activists and aid supplies. Israeli authorities had reportedly warned the ships via radio that they were entering “an active warzone” and advised them to turn back.
Thunberg was one of 12 aboard the Madleen, heading for Gaza. When the ships continued, Israeli forces boarded them and detained everyone on board before later deporting them.
The incident has intensified debates over Israel’s blockade and activism in the region, with supporters praising Thunberg’s efforts and critics accusing her of spreading misinformation.
