‘Greta dragged on the ground, forced to kiss Israeli flag’

Several international activists deported from Israel after joining a Gaza aid flotilla have accused Israeli forces of physically and psychologically abusing Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg.

Turkish journalist and flotilla participant Ersin Celik told local media he personally witnessed Israeli forces "torture Greta Thunberg," describing how she was "dragged on the ground" and "forced to kiss the Israeli flag," according to Al Jazeera report.

Malaysian activist Hazwani Helmi and American participant Windfield Beaver gave similar accounts at Istanbul Airport, alleging Thunberg was shoved and paraded with an Israeli flag.

Israeli rights group Adalah, which is providing legal aid, said detainees reported being forced to kneel with zip-tied hands for hours, denied medication, and blocked from speaking with lawyers.

Israel's foreign ministry, however, dismissed the allegations as "complete lies", insisting all detainees were treated according to law.