Greta Thunberg's Pro-Palestine post sparks controversy over alleged anti-semitic symbol

Climate activist Greta Thunberg has removed a social media post expressing support for Palestine after facing criticism over a stuffed blue octopus visible in the photo, which some claimed could be seen as an 'anti-Semitic' symbol.

In the post, the 20-year-old stated, "Today we are striking in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza. The world needs to speak up and call for an immediate ceasefire, justice, and freedom for Palestinians and all civilians affected."
Following backlash for not condemning Hamas attacks on Israel and concerns about the blue octopus in the picture, Thunberg swiftly deleted the post and shared a nearly identical photo with the same four people holding the same four signs.


In that post, Greta explained, "It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for anti-Semitism, 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."


The Octopus symbol
The use of an octopus as an anti-Semitic symbol dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when it was employed in anti-Semitic propaganda and rhetoric. Octopus imagery was often utilized in conspiracy theories, suggesting Jewish control or manipulation of different aspects of society or politics.

Depictions usually featured an octopus with tentacles, wearing a Star of David, encompassing a globe. Such imagery aimed to accuse Jews of trying to exert control over the world for malicious purposes.

Nazi propaganda
Nazi propaganda, particularly in publications like 'Der Stürmer,' depicted Jews as tentacled octopuses using their arms to manipulate finance, media, and politics. These offensive cartoons reinforced harmful stereotypes and fueled anti-Semitism.

The octopus symbol also ties into the conspiracy theory known as "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," a fictitious text claiming a Jewish conspiracy for global domination. This conspiracy theory portrays Jews as a secretive and all-powerful group controlling global affairs through their tentacles of influence. The use of the octopus as an anti-Semitic symbol extends beyond historical propaganda. It has also appeared in contemporary forms of hate speech, including online imagery and memes, perpetuating harmful stereotypes and contributing to the persistence of anti-Semitic beliefs.