A French doctor who was aboard the intercepted humanitarian aid boat heading to Gaza has accused Israeli authorities of mistreating passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg. The boat, named Madleen and organized by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed from Italy on June 1 with the aim of delivering aid to Gaza amid worsening humanitarian conditions. The vessel was stopped by the Israeli navy roughly 200 kilometers from the Gaza coastline.

Dr. Baptiste André, who returned to France after being deported, told reporters that Israeli agents mocked the passengers and used psychological tactics, including deliberately preventing them from sleeping. “Every time someone fell asleep, loud music was played, and agents danced around us,” he said, also noting restricted access to food and water. While André refrained from legally defining the actions, he did label them acts of mistreatment.

Among the 12 passengers was Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg, who signed deportation papers along with three others. Upon arriving at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport, Thunberg accused Israel of abducting them from international waters, stating, “We were kidnapped and brought to Israel against our will.” She emphasized the mission was a peaceful protest against Israel’s blockade of Gaza and described the experience as one more instance of systemic rights violations by Israeli authorities.

In contrast, Israeli officials dismissed the flotilla as a PR move, referring to the vessel as a “selfie yacht” and insisting it breached their lawful naval blockade of Gaza. They rejected the abuse claims, framing the incident as a security enforcement measure. Meanwhile, eight passengers remain in Israeli custody awaiting court proceedings as international scrutiny over Israel’s handling of activists and aid missions continues to intensify.