Greta Thunberg delivered a powerful statement upon her arrival at Athens International Airport ‘Eleftherios Venizelos’ on Monday evening, following her detention by Israeli authorities. The Swedish climate activist landed shortly after 5:00 PM on a flight from Eilat, Israel, along with 27 Greek citizens and 134 international activists from 15 countries, who were part of the Global Sumud Flotilla — a mission aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Among the detained were 28 French nationals, 15 Italians, and 9 Swedes, including Thunberg herself.

Greta Thunberg in Greece:

Let me be very clear: there is a genocide going on in front of our eyes. pic.twitter.com/zhZ2HpVGgE

— Global Sumud Flotilla (@GlobalSumud) October 6, 2025

Speaking to reporters at the airport, Thunberg condemned the international community’s response to the situation in Gaza:
“A genocide is happening right before our eyes,” she said. “Governments are not even doing the bare minimum to stop the bloodshed. I will never understand how people can be so cruel.”

In a firm message to global leaders and the public, she added:
“No one has the privilege to say ‘we didn’t know.’ In the future, no one will be able to claim ignorance. Under international law, states have a legal obligation to prevent and stop genocide. That means ending complicity, applying real pressure, and stopping arms shipments. We are not seeing any of that — not even the bare minimum.”

She emphasized that her participation in the flotilla was driven by the failure of governments to act:
“People in Gaza are being starved. I will never understand how anyone can allow this. This flotilla was about taking action when our governments chose not to.”

See images from the activists’ arrival at Athens International Airport: