Greece: Greek activists from Global Sumud Flotilla arrive in Athens after Israeli detention.

SHOTLIST: ATHENS, GREECE (MAY 22, 2026) 1. VARIOUS OF PRO-PALESTINIAN SUPPORTERS CHANTING SLOGANS, WAVING PALESTINIAN FLAGS AT ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS AIRPORT 2. VARIOUS OF GLOBAL SUMUF FLOTILLA ACTIVISTS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT / ACTIVISTS EMBRACING THEIR RELATIVES 3. ACTIVIST PHAEDRA VOKALI SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (Greek) 4. ACTIVIST CHRISTINI DESI LOUKA SPEAKING TO REPORTERS (Greek)ATHENS, GREECE - MAY 22, 2026: A group of Greek activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, who were detained by Israel in international waters, arrived in the Greek capital Athens on Friday, May 22. The 19 Greek activists, who had been attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza, landed at Athens’ Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport after being transferred from Istanbul. Relatives of the activists and pro-Palestinian supporters gathered at the airport to welcome the group, waving Palestinian flags and chanting slogans in support of Palestine and against Israel. Speaking to reporters at the airport, activist Phaedra Vokali said some members of the group had been injured due to mistreatment by Israeli authorities, adding that some detainees were left in such poor condition that they could barely walk. Vokali said the activists were later transferred to prisons at Ashdod Port, where inhumane conditions continued. She noted that detainees were held under extremely harsh conditions without adequate water, food or basic hygiene supplies, and were forced to sleep overcrowded inside containers. She added that what the activists experienced was insignificant compared to the suffering endured by Palestinians for decades, stressing that they would continue struggling for a free Palestine and warning that such incidents would continue unless those responsible faced consequences. Another activist, Christini Desi Louka, said the group had undertaken a peaceful humanitarian mission to deliver aid to Gaza, accusing Israel of attempting to block all forms of assistance reaching Palestinians. Louka claimed that Israel was trying to destroy the Palestinian people and described the situation as genocide against Palestinians. She also criticized Western countries, including Greece and the United States, for remaining silent over the situation, alleging that every activist participating in the flotilla had been subjected to abuse, including beatings, plastic bullets and deprivation of water during detention. Louka called on the international community and the Greek public to react to the humanitarian situation in Palestine. Israeli forces attacked the aid flotilla in international waters on Monday and detained all activists on board. The flotilla, carrying 428 people from 44 countries, departed Thursday from the Turkish district of Marmaris in an attempt to break the illegal Israeli blockade on Gaza imposed since 2007.