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Malaysian singer and humanitarian activist Hazwani Helmi has claimed that climate activist Greta Thunberg, 22, was abused by Israeli forces while in detention
According to Harian Metro, Hazwani said she witnessed Thunberg being shoved and paraded with an Israeli flag after they were detained for their involvement in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) mission, which aimed to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza.
"What can I say, it was very bad. They (Israeli soldiers) treated us like animals, without giving us food or clean water.
"I also saw the cruel treatment Greta endured. She was pulled hard, and an Israeli flag was placed over her face.
"They treated Greta like an animal. The Israeli army also threw away all the medicines and other aid items," she said.
Hazwani was among 23 Malaysian volunteers detained by Israeli forces last Thursday, 2 October. She is expected to return to Malaysia today, 6 October, from Istanbul, Turkey along with the other Malaysian participants.
Below is a video of Hazwani speaking to the media about Thunberg:
Besides Hazwani, Turkish journalist and GSF participant Ersin Celik claimed that Israeli forces tortured Thunberg, forcing her to "kiss the Israeli flag" and dragging her on the ground
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera reported American GSF volunteer Windfield Beaver shared a similar account, alleging that the Swedish activist was "used as propaganda".
He recalled how she was shoved into a room when far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived.
Another volunteer and journalist, Lorenzo D'Agostino, claimed Thunberg was "wrapped in the Israeli flag and exhibited like a trophy", a scene described with disbelief and anger by those who witnessed it.
Many of the detained volunteers alleged that the Israeli military placed them in terrorist prison cells, forced them to drink toilet water, and denied them access to medication.
So, is it true that Thunberg was subjected to torture and humiliation?
Here is what she told a Swedish official.
According to The Guardian, she reportedly admitted to being subjected to harsh treatment in Israeli custody, based on information shared by a Swedish foreign ministry official who visited her.
The official said the activist was detained in a cell infested with bedbugs and was given insufficient food and water.
"The embassy has been able to meet with Greta. She reported dehydration and said she had developed rashes, which she suspects were caused by bedbugs.
"She also described harsh treatment, saying she had been forced to sit for long periods on hard surfaces.
"Another detainee told a different embassy they saw her being forced to hold flags while pictures were taken. She wondered whether those images had been circulated," the Swedish ministry official said in an email.
