Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard faces a complaint to the constitutional committee over statements about mistreatment of activists in Israel. The complaint comes from MP Lorena Delgado Varas, who joined the Gaza flotilla with Greta Thunberg. The Foreign Ministry has now sent a note to Israel demanding an explanation.
Swedish activists, including Greta Thunberg and Lorena Delgado Varas, joined the 'Global Sumud Flotilla' aid convoy to Gaza in early October 2025. They were detained by Israeli forces and describe mistreatment including beatings, kicks, lack of clean water, confinement in cages under scorching sun, and threats of gassing. Participants claim they reported this to Swedish embassy staff during a visit to Ketziot prison.
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and a senior UD official stated in interviews with SVT, TV4, and Aftonbladet that none of the detained Swedes mentioned mistreatment. Delgado Varas, formerly V and now an independent MP, filed a complaint against the minister to the Constitutional Committee on Monday, October 20, published in the newspaper Internationalen. She recounts her own humiliation and abuse and says: 'We all told them. I find it hard to believe a Swedish official would lie about such a thing to the minister, so in my view, it's obvious the minister is lying.' The complaint calls for review of misleading statements and the minister's compliance with constitutional requirements on accuracy and impartiality.
The minister responds: 'I welcome the KU review. It's important to clarify what happened as much of the reporting has come afterwards. However, I note that the flotilla travelers have made the situation about themselves rather than the civilians in Gaza, which is regrettable.' On Tuesday, October 21, the Foreign Ministry emailed Aftonbladet stating it had sent a note to Israel demanding an explanation regarding the reports. UD does not specify the note's content.
International media including Anadolu Agency, CNN, and Al Jazeera reported on the mistreatment as early as October 4, when 137 participants were released. Turkish journalist Ersin Celik was quoted: 'They tortured Greta brutally in front of our eyes. They forced her to crawl and kiss the Israeli flag.' American participant Windfield Beaver described Greta being thrown into a room during a visit by Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, and all being denied food, water, and medicine. Aftonbladet has been denied interviews with UD since October 10.