Greta Thunberg says ‘We are striking in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza’ during her climate protest
- 20 Oct 2023
Gulf Today Report
Young climate activist Greta Thunberg has shared the plight of Palestinians living in Gaza though her Instagram post on Friday.
The 20-year-old activist wrote about Palestine during her #FridaysForFuture climate protest.
Thunberg said on Instagarm, “Week 270. Today we are striking in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. The world needs to speak up and call for and immediate ceasefire, justice and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected...
“It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted by some as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of. The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings.
“We are of course against every type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes. This is non-negotiable. That is why I deleted the last post.”
Some social media users have criticised her for failing to condemn Hamas attacks on Israel, others questioned why the image of her with three other activists featured a blue octopus, branding it an 'anti-Semitic trope' for an imaginary worldwide Jewish conspiracy.
Thunberg deleted the original post and shared it again without the octopus.
Thunberg has been vocal about global warming and climate change. The activist, who started the so-called "School Strike for Climate" movement as a teenager, was fined by a court in Sweden earlier this month.
On Wednesday, UK police charged the Swedish climate campaigner with a public order offence, following her detention at a protest outside an annual gathering of energy industry figures in London.
The activist, a key face of the movement to fight climate change, was among 26 people charged by the capital's Metropolitan Police, after she was held at Tuesday's demonstration.
Thunberg was charged with "failing to comply with a condition" imposed under Britain's Public Order Act dealing with public assemblies. She was released on bail and is due back in court on November 15.