Greta Thunberg, the renowned Swedish climate activist, has issued a strong call to action to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging him to uphold his “legal duty to act to prevent a genocide” in Gaza.
Thunberg made this statement while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, an aid mission headed to Gaza to deliver essential supplies, including food, baby formula, and medical aid.
The flotilla, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aims to break Israel’s blockade on Gaza, where a severe famine has been declared and at least 63,633 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war.
Thunberg emphasized the need for governments to take responsibility for preventing genocide and not supporting apartheid regimes.
“These governments, these people in power, have a legal duty to act to prevent a genocide and to not support an apartheid regime,” she stressed.
In a message to Starmer ahead of a potential meeting with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Thunberg warned that those who support or commit war crimes will face consequences.
“The words we will use to describe people who are standing on the wrong side of history, supporting or committing war crimes, those words do not exist yet, but we will be using them towards people like [Starmer],” she stated.
The activist highlighted growing global awareness and support for the Palestinian cause, saying, “people are waking up” to the reality of the situation in Gaza.
Thunberg noted that civilians worldwide are stepping up, but there is a significant absence of those with legal responsibility to act. “We know that the world does not stand with war criminals,” she added, emphasizing the importance of international accountability.
Thunberg and other activists on the flotilla are aware of the risks involved, including the possibility of Israeli attacks.
Yasemin Acar, a German activist on the mission, described it as a “suicide mission,” but questioned why they should fear for their lives while carrying humanitarian aid to a starving population.
Thiago Ávila, a Brazilian activist, highlighted the importance of international visibility in preventing attacks, stating that Israel “cannot afford to pay the political cost” of harming activists due to global scrutiny.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has drawn attention to the dire situation in Gaza, where Palestinians face “starvation, pure and simple,” according to the UN.
Thunberg’s presence on the flotilla underscores the growing international support for the Palestinian cause and the need for immediate action to prevent further humanitarian crises.
As the situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, the international community must take decisive steps to address the crisis and hold those responsible accountable.