UPDATE: Environmental activist Greta Thunberg is under fire for a controversial Instagram post that included an image of Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage allegedly starved by Hamas in Gaza. This backlash comes just days after David was taken during the October 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel.
The post, which aimed to highlight the suffering of Palestinian prisoners, featured three images, one of which showed a frail David in a still frame from a Hamas propaganda video. In the video, David describes his harrowing conditions, claiming he has not eaten for days. Disturbingly, he is shown being forced to dig his own grave by his captors.
Thunberg’s post read, “The suffering of Palestinian prisoners is not a matter of opinion — it is a fact of systemic cruelty and dehumanization. Humanity cannot be selective. Justice cannot have borders.” However, the inclusion of David’s image has sparked outrage, prompting Yeela David, Evyatar’s sister, to criticize Thunberg for her lack of research. “Every minute you are not deleting the post, you are becoming a bigger joke. Embarrassing,” she stated.
The controversial slide featuring David has since been removed, but social media users continue to express their anger over the incident. Comments on the post have condemned the use of David’s image, calling it an example of “lies” being showcased.
The post was part of a collaborative effort involving Thunberg, Yasmin Acar of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, and two other accounts. The first slide stated, “The world is rightly horrified by what the Sumud Flotilla hostages are enduring,” referring to detainees captured when Israel intercepted their mission last week.
The activists claimed that over 11,000 Palestinian “hostages and prisoners” are held in inhumane conditions, drawing a parallel between their suffering and that of the Sumud Flotilla captives.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded by posting a screenshot of the deleted slide alongside a zoomed-in version of David’s image, declaring, “Ignorance blinded by hate is trending.” The ministry emphasized that Thunberg’s post misrepresented the situation, stating, “Greta Thunberg posted about ‘Palestinian prisoners’ using the image of Israeli hostage Evyatar David – starved, abused, and forced by Palestinian Hamas to dig his own grave.”
Thunberg, who gained recognition for her climate activism at a young age, has become increasingly vocal about the conflict in Gaza. She has participated in two Gaza-bound aid flotillas this year, both of which were intercepted by Israeli forces. The situation remains tense, and the fallout from Thunberg’s post is ongoing, with many calling for a deeper understanding of the complexities involved.
As this story develops, viewers and readers are urged to stay updated on the latest reactions and implications surrounding this incident. The emotional impact on families like that of Evyatar David, who remains in captivity, continues to resonate amidst the heated discourse.
