Man grabs Greta Thunberg's microphone after pro-Palestinian chants at climate rally - BBC.com
Man grabs Greta Thunberg's microphone after pro-Palestinian chants at climate rally - BBC News
Man grabs Greta Thunberg's microphone after pro-Palestinian chants at climate rally
A speech by Greta Thunberg at a large climate protest in Amsterdam was interrupted by a stage invader on Sunday.
The man said he "came here for a climate demonstration, not a political view", while trying to pull the microphone from Ms Thunberg's hands.
Shortly before the incident, chants of "Palestine will be free" could be heard from the crowd.
Earlier during the rally, an activist had her speech cut short by organisers after using the phrase "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free", according to Reuters news agency.
Many Jewish groups say the slogan, used at demonstrations around the world, is a call for the destruction of Israel. Pro-Palestinian activists argue that most people using it are calling for an end to Israel's occupation of the West Bank and blockade of Gaza, not the elimination of Israel itself.
After the man had been removed from the stage, Ms Thunberg joined the crowd in chanting "no climate justice on occupied land".
Last month, the Swedish climate activist came under fire after sharing pro-Palestinian messages on social media, with some accusing her of not showing support for Israeli victims of the Hamas attacks.
Related Knowledge Center: Climate diplomacy
Talks are well underway in preparation for the next major international meeting on climate change, 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28), scheduled to begin Nov. 30 in the United Arab Emirates.
Much like last year’s COP27, finances — specifically, aid to developing nations — will be at the center of conference deliberations.
The conference faces an even greater sense of urgency brought on by the Sept. 8, 2023, release of the first global stocktake, which calls for accelerated action to meet the goals set in the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement (COP21).
Climate diplomacy: COP 27 | Climate diplomacy: COP 28 | Climate diplomacy: COP 29