Greta Thunberg has been deported back to Sweden after attempting to break the naval blockade of the Gaza Strip aboard the Madleen, a vessel operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition.
The eco-activist, who prefers not to fly unless in emergencies, was loaded onto the deportation flight from Israel after being detained aboard a ship intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters.
Thunberg's latest stunt has sparked a global outcry, with critics accusing her of trying to make the Gaza crisis all about her through moral grandstanding.
Her decision to claim Israel's interception was a "kidnapping" was a particular sore spot, with Piers Morgan branding her an "attention-seeking narcissist" on X, adding: "What an insult to the actual hostages in Gaza who really WERE kidnapped. This stupid stunt is all about your ego, and will make zero difference to the plight of innocent Palestinians caught up in this dreadful war."
Others defended her choice of language, with British author and journalist Jonathon Cook responding to Piers' post with a rhetorical barb: "What about the 100,000s of Palestinians seized illegally by Israel over seven decades, usually without charge or trial (but often including torture)? What do we call what happens to them?"
While the merits of her activism remain subject to intense debate, what cannot be argued is its polarising nature.
In light of her latest stunt, GB News has revisited five times she previously caused a furore.
The “Put them against the wall” comment
Yesterday I said we must hold our leaders accountable and unfortunately said “put them against the wall”. That’s Swenglish: “att ställa någon mot väggen” (to put someone against the wall) means to hold someone accountable.
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) December 14, 2019
That’s what happens when you... (1/2)
During a climate rally in Italy in 2019, Thunberg used the phrase “put them against the wall” when referring to political leaders not acting on climate change.
This drew fierce backlash as it was widely interpreted as a call for violence, especially in English-speaking contexts where the phrase evokes execution imagery.
She later clarified on X, formerly known as Twitter, that she had directly translated a Swedish idiom (“ställa någon mot väggen”), which means to hold someone accountable or confront them, not incite violence.
The young activist wrote: “We will make sure that we put them against the wall and they will have to do their job to protect our futures.”
UN speech sparks Jeremy Clarkson’s “adolescent meltdown” barb
The Swedish climate activist's impassioned UN speech in 2019 was savagely mocked by Jeremy Clarkson
Getty Images
The Swedish climate activist's impassioned UN speech in 2019 was savagely mocked by Jeremy Clarkson
During her address at the Climate Action Summit, Thunberg chastised world leaders and implored them to do something to address climate change.
"This is all wrong. I shouldn't be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean," she said, adding: "Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you! You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words."
Clarkson would later tear her speech apart in his column in The Sun, branding her a "spoilt brat" who was having an "full-on "adolescent meltdown", adding: "When you told your mum and dad to stop using planes and give up meat, they didn't behave like sane parents and ignore you. They actually said, 'Yes, dear.' And did."
Claiming she “didn’t know” about Hamas/Hezbollah supporters on the Gaza flotilla
Thunberg, 22, was on board the British-flagged vessel Madleen alongside a crew that had shown terrorist sympathies
Twitter/OSINTdefender
Thunberg, 22, was among 12 passengers aboard the British-flagged vessel Madleen, which was transporting aid intended for civilians in war-torn Gaza.
The boat's crew included several individuals who have publicly expressed support for designated terrorist organisations Hamas and Hezbollah, and made statements that have drawn significant controversy.
Amid the ensuing backlash, the activist told Swedish media she hadn't "heard about it or what this person has said".
When asked why she was unaware of the views held by her fellow passengers, Thunberg replied, “Because I haven’t had a phone.”
Reporters also questioned why she hadn’t researched the affiliations of those on board before joining the Gaza-bound mission.
She responded:“Should I ask exactly everyone what exactly they have said about everything? It would take some time.”
Deutsche Bahn Twitter spat
Thunberg accused a train operator of overcrowding yet it was later revealed she was upgraded to first class
X
While returning from a climate event in 2019, Thunberg tweeted a photo of herself sitting on the floor of a train next to her bags.
The accompanying caption read: "Traveling on overcrowded trains through Germany. And I’m finally on my way home!"
The widespread sympathy that followed soon soured after Germany’s national rail company, Deutsche Bahn (DB), hit back, revealing that she was upgraded to first class.
DB tweeted: "Dear #Greta, thank you for supporting us railroad workers in the fight against climate change! We were pleased that you were on the ICE 74 with us on Saturday. And with 100 percent green electricity."
Thunberg, who was returning from the COP25 climate summit in Madrid, responded promptly to the criticism, clarifying:
“Our train from Basel was taken out of traffic. So we sat on the floor on two different trains. After Göttingen I got a seat. This is no problem of course, and I never said it was.
Overcrowded trains are a great sign because it means the demand for train travel is high!”
Deutsche Bahn later issued a press release stating that Thunberg’s travel companions had been seated in First Class from Frankfurt onwards.
Chanting “F–k Israel” and “F–k Germany” at rally
Thunberg chanted “F–k Israel” and “F–k Germany” at a Palestine rally last year
Getty Images
At a rally supporting Palestine last year, Thunberg was filmed repeating profane chants shouted by the crowd. The video shows her laughing as she chants “F–k Israel” and “F–k Germany” back to a raucous crowd.
This drew widespread criticism, including from pro-climate allies in Germany, who felt the remarks crossed a line from political protest into inflammatory hate speech.
The backlash from supporters of Israel was particularly strong, with one user on X to asking: “Why has she ever been relevant?” and calling her speech “nasty”.
“She’s lost the plot entirely,” another critic wrote.
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