A Swedish activist is encountering criticism for employing an image of a gaunt Israeli hostage in an Instagram update, which was purportedly used to illustrate Palestinian suffering.
The social media update stated, “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.” This post featured three pictures, one of which depicted Evyatar David, an Israeli hostage abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023.
The photograph of David originated from a still frame within a Hamas propaganda film. In the footage, David looks remarkably weak while recounting his time in captivity and claiming he had not consumed food for an extended period. A particularly disturbing segment for many viewers was when David’s captors reportedly compelled him to excavate his own burial site.
Evyatar David’s sister, Yeela David, remarked on the post, asserting that Thunberg ought to conduct thorough research prior to sharing “things you don’t understand.” She further stated, “every minute you are not deleting the post, you are becoming a bigger joke. Embarrassing.”
The multi-image post seems to have undergone editing, as the slide containing David’s picture is no longer displayed. Nevertheless, the comments section is inundated with observations confirming the original presence of his image, as users condemned the “lies” presented within the publication.
These slides formed part of a joint publication involving Thunberg, Yasmin Acar, who serves on the steering committee of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition; the Gaza Sumud Flotilla; and two additional accounts.
The initial slide of the post declared, “The world is rightly horrified by what the Sumud Flotilla hostages are enduring,” referencing individuals apprehended last week. “Their suffering is real and no human being should ever be subjected to such pain, fear or humiliation.” The post then proceeded to draw parallels with the difficult situation of Palestinians in Israeli detention facilities, with the activists claiming that more than 11,000 Palestinian “hostages and prisoners” were being held under unsanitary and inhuman circumstances.
Furthermore, the collective featured a 2015 video within their post, showcasing Ahmad Manasra, who was 13 years old at that time. Manasra was apprehended in 2015 following a stabbing incident in Jerusalem during what is frequently referred to as the “Knife Intifada,” according to information.
The organization shared a screenshot of the removed slide alongside an enlarged depiction of David’s still image, proclaiming, “Ignorance blinded by hate is trending.”
“Greta Thunberg disseminated content concerning ‘Palestinian prisoners’ utilizing the photograph of Israeli hostage Evyatar David – who was starved, subjected to abuse, and compelled by Palestinian Hamas to excavate his own burial plot,” the ministry stated on X.
Thunberg, who gained widespread recognition for her environmental advocacy during her high school years, has emerged as an outspoken critic of Israel since the commencement of the recent conflict. She has taken part in two humanitarian aid convoys destined for Gaza, both of which were interdicted by Israeli military personnel.
Digital attempted to contact Thunberg for her statement.