Donald Trump, Greta Thunberg (AP)
US President Donald Trump on Monday slammed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, describing her as “angry” and suggesting she seek medical help. The remarks come shortly after Israel deported Thunberg and 170 other activists who were detained while participating in an aid flotilla bound for Gaza. “She has an anger management problem. I think she should see a doctor. If you ever watch her, for a young person, she’s so angry. She’s so crazy. You can have her, she’s just a troublemaker,” Trump said, speaking to reporters. Around 450 activists, including Greta Thunberg, were arrested last week aboard the Global Sumud flotilla, which was carrying food, water, and medical supplies to Gaza. The 45-vessel flotilla aimed to break the Israeli blockade and deliver aid to a region where the UN has reported famine-like conditions following two years of conflict. Israel began intercepting the vessels in international waters on Wednesday, preventing boats carrying over 400 people from reaching Palestinian territory.After being held in detention since last week, Thunberg arrived in Greece on Monday along with 160 other campaigners from the Global Sumud flotilla, following their deportation by Israel.Israel’s foreign ministry announced on X that a total of 171 activists from the flotilla’s ships, intercepted last week while attempting to deliver aid to blockaded Gaza, had been expelled, bringing the overall number of deported participants to 341. “Let me be very clear. There is a genocide going on,” Thunberg told the crowd at Athens airport.“Our international systems are betraying Palestinians. They are not even able to prevent the worst war crimes from happening,” she added. The Israeli foreign ministry reported that 138 activists from the Global Sumud flotilla remain in Israeli custody.Thunberg, 22, was reportedly mistreated by Israeli forces during her detention. Turkish journalist and Sumud Flotilla participant Ersin Celik told local media that Thunberg was “dragged on the ground” and “forced to kiss the Israeli flag.”Thunberg also informed Swedish authorities on Saturday that she was facing harsh conditions while in Israeli custody. According to an email from the Swedish Foreign Ministry to Thunberg’s associates, an official who visited her reported that she described being held in a bedbug-infested cell with inadequate food and water.
