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Greta Thunberg feels the heat for pro-Gaza post, but 'antisemitic' octopus leaves Internet bewildered

Greta Thunberg said, 'We are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes'

STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN: Greta Thunberg, 20, found herself in the middle of an uncomfortable situation after social media users pointed out an alleged "antisemitic" stuffed octopus toy in the background of her pro-Gaza Instagram post.

The Swedish climate activist took to social media to show her support for Palestine in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war, sharing a photo of herself holding a "Stand with Gaza" sign. 

The photo also featured three of her friends holding signs and placards reading, "Free Palestine," "This Jew Stands with Palestine," and "Climate Justice Now!"

"Today we strike 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," the post read. 

However, critics were quick to point out that the post also featured a blue-colored stuffed octopus toy which allegedly stands as a symbol of antisemitism.

Why was the stuffed octopus toy dubbed as a symbol of antisemitism? 

The blue-colored stuffed octopus toy seen in Thunberg's pro-Gaza post was dubbed as a symbol of antisemitism due to its comparison to the Kraken, a giant sea octopus, which has a history of being used by Nazis and antisemites to depict Jewish control. 

The concept stems from an alleged propaganda cartoon created by artist Seppla (Josef Plank) circa 1938, in Germany.

The cartoon allegedly portrayed a person, presumed to be Winston Churchill, who was not Jewish, as a blue-colored octopus with tentacles encircling the globe and a Star of David atop its head. 

According to the Anti-Semitism Policy Trust, the Octopus is a common antisemitic image often seen in anti-Jewish images and cartoons, representing the antisemitic theory of worldwide Jewish conspiracy and control. 

Back in 1903, the antisemitic forgery, The Protocols of the Elders of Zion, reportedly alleged without confirmation or verification that Jewish leaders were conspiring to control the world, including global politics, the media, and the world economy. 

The image of the octopus with its tentacles wrapped around the globe was allegedly a representation of this theory.

As per the Antisemitism Policy Trust, the cartoonist compared the octopus to a puppet master pulling the strings of the world to exert control, an image that has since been used to present the same antisemitic theory. 

Greta Thunberg said she was 'unaware' of the octopus' interpretation as an antisemitic symbol 

Thunberg was quick to delete her initial pro-Gaza post after social media users pointed out that the stuffed octopus toy in the background of her photo can be depicted as a representation of antisemitism.

She then posted the same image after cropping out the stuffed octopus plushie and clarified that she was "completely unaware" of the antisemitic interpretation. 

"It has come to my knowledge that the stuffed animal shown in my earlier post can be interpreted as a symbol for antisemitism, which I was completely unaware of," Thunberg wrote on X (formerly Twitter). 

"The toy in the picture is a tool often used by autistic people as a way to communicate feelings. We are of course against any type of discrimination, and condemn antisemitism in all forms and shapes. This is non-negotiable. That is why I deleted the last post," she concluded.

The controversy surrounding Thunberg's pro-Gaza post came after she joined the Fossil Free London group for a protest outside JP Morgan demanding the bank stop funding fossil fuels.

Prior to her presence at the protest, Thunberg was charged with a public order offense over a protest outside a central London hotel.