STORY: Greta Thunberg said she is “not scared of Israel” as she sailed with an international aid flotilla toward Gaza, calling the voyage a last resort to show “there is still some humanity left.”

In a Reuters interview on Thursday (September 25), the Swedish activist said the Global Sumud Flotilla mission should not have to exist but will continue to try to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza’s 2 million-plus people under siege.

Gaza aid flotilla is currently using about 50 civilians boats to try to break Israel’s naval blockade on the enclave. This is the third time Thunberg travels in a boat that attempts to break through the blockade.

Thunberg accused Israel of “systematically” starving Gaza and cited a U.N. commission’s findings as evidence of genocide, urging governments to halt arms transfers and apply “real pressure.”

Israel denies committing genocide, says its blockade is aimed at preventing arms from reaching Hamas, and has accused flotilla activists of complicity with the militant group.

Thunberg said the risks are increasing as the flotilla nears Gaza, denouncing “escalated attacks” in recent weeks, including what she described as drones dropping explosives and unidentified objects that damaged several boats.

Italy and Spain have dispatched navy ships after an incident off the Greek island of Gavdos, while Greece has said it will guarantee safe passage for boats currently in its waters and has notified Israel that Greek citizens are on board.

“We are not just delivering humanitarian aid. We are trying to deliver hope and solidarity,” Thunberg said, adding that civilians should not have to step in where governments “are failing to act.”

Athens says it is on alert and will investigate reported drone incidents; it is not joining Italian and Spanish naval deployments.

“We are undeterred,” Thunberg said. “We continue our mission because there is no alternative… keep your eyes on Gaza, because as we speak, Gaza is being erased.”

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA BOATS SAILING THROUGH MEDITERRANEAN / REUTERS INTERVIEW WITH ACTIVIST GRETA THUNBERG, PART OF THE FLOTILLA

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: AT SEA (SEPTEMBER 25, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. SHIP WHICH IS PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA SAILING IN WATERS NEAR GREECE

2. ACTIVISTS ON BOARD SHIP WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAG WHILE CHANTING (English) “Free, free Palestine! From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“I'm not scared of Israel. I'm scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity and what we are doing here is trying to show that there is still some humanity left, that there are still people willing to step up when all other means fail. But this is a last resort. This mission should not have to exist.”

4. VARIOUS OF ANOTHER BOAT PART OF FLOTILLA SAILING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“We are continuing our journey towards Gaza to deliver humanitarian aid to a population that is being systematically starved as a continuation of decades and decades of suffocating oppression, apartheid and occupation. There are over 2 million people who are living trapped under a siege and who are being systematically starved by Israel, and we are doing our bare minimum and stepping up to what our governments are not fulfilling their legal obligations to act to prevent a genocide.”

6. THUNBERG AND OTHER ACTIVISTS ON BOARD SHIP PAINTED WITH PALESTINIAN FLAG

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“The U.N. Commission has now confirmed what Palestinians and human rights organizations have been saying for a very, very long time, that there is a genocide in Gaza. And under international law, states have a legal duty to act, not just to speak up, but to act to stop it. Ending arms transfers, ending complicity and applying real pressure. And we are calling on all the world's governments to take on that legal responsibility. It should not fall on us as civilians to step up and to deliver humanitarian aid.”

8. BOAT WITH NAME “SHIREEN” SEEN ON IT SAILING

9. ACTIVISTS ON BOARD BOAT

10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“The closer we get to Gaza, the higher is the risk of escalations and more attacks. The last weeks, we have seen numerous escalated attacks against our mission that has damaged several boats where drones have been dropping explosions, chemicals and unidentified objects on and around boats in a desperate attempt to intimidate us and to silence and scare those who are standing in solidarity with Palestine and to further dehumanize Palestinians.”

11. BOATS SAILING

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“We are not just delivering humanitarian aid. We are trying to deliver hope and solidarity and to send a strong message that the world stands with Palestine, the world has not forgotten Gaza. And when our governments are failing to step up, the people will do so.”

13. ANOTHER BOAT PART OF FLOTILLA SAILING WITH ACTIVISTS ON BOARD

14. PALESTINIAN FLAG AND RED FLAG SEEN ON BOAT

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“We are undeterred. We continue our mission because we know that there is no alternative. We are not acting to come to the rescue of the people of Palestine. The people of Palestine do not need anyone to come and save them. We are hearing and acting upon the calls of Palestinians for everyone who can take action to do so. So we are acting and ending our complicity. This is the very minimum we can do to use our privilege and our platforms to highlight Gaza and the situation there.”

16. BOAT SAILING

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SWEDISH ACTIVIST PART OF GLOBAL SUMUD FLOTILLA, GRETA THUNBERG, SAYING:

“We are also challenging this extremely violent business as usual that is failing to prevent even the worst war crimes from happening. So keep your eyes on deck, but most importantly, keep your eyes on Gaza, because as we speak, Gaza is being erased.”

18. VARIOUS OF SHIPS THAT FORM PART OF FLOTILLA SAILING