Greta Thunberg, adorned in a black and white Palestinian scarf called for a “ceasefire now” during a climate protest in Amsterdam on Sunday.
Greta Thunberg faced criticism on Monday in Germany for her pro-Palestinian stance. The local chapter of the climate movement Fridays for Future distanced itself from her views on the Israel-Hamas war. During a climate protest in Amsterdam on Sunday, Thunberg, wearing a Palestinian black and white scarf, called for a “ceasefire now.” She was interrupted by a man who objected to her views on the Israel-Hamas conflict, stating that he came for a climate protest, not for her other opinions. After the interruption, Thunberg and the crowd began chanting, “no climate justice on occupied land.” white Palestinian scarf
Greta Thunberg has been criticized for diverting the essential and valid concern for climate protection into a one-sided stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. According to Ricarda Lang, co-leader of the Greens, a coalition partner of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Thunberg failed to address the perpetrators and condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas, thereby tarnishing her image as the face of the climate movement.
Volker Becker, president of the German-Israel Society DIG, stated that Thunberg’s statements in Amsterdam signal the end of her role as a climate activist, accusing her of becoming an “Israel hater.” The Israeli embassy in Germany expressed disappointment in Thunberg for allegedly exploiting the climate stage for personal purposes.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel’s borders on October 7, which resulted in the death of approximately 1,200, mainly civilians, Fridays for Future International has shown solidarity with Gaza on social media. Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas, with the conflict leading to a reported 11,000 casualties, mostly civilians.
Fridays for Future’s international group condemned the situation in Gaza as “genocide” and criticized “Western support and misinformation machines.” Luisa Neubauer, head of the German chapter, expressed disappointment in Thunberg’s one-sided view of the conflict, particularly regarding the Jewish victims of the October 7 massacre.
The German climate activist branch distanced itself from the international group due to its pro-Palestinian posts on Instagram. Neubauer mentioned that while Thunberg was previously reflective and far-sighted, the German climate branch is now reevaluating collaborations based on shared values.