WATCH: Greta Thunberg is arrested in Danish protest against Maersk

Greta Thunberg, the Swedish climate activist widely known for her environmental advocacy, has recently been involved in protests targeting A.P. Moller-Maersk, a Danish shipping conglomerate, over its alleged role in supplying military equipment to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Yesterday, she joined a group of demonstrators outside Maersk’s headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark, calling for the company to halt its transportation of weapons and military components to Israel.

The protest saw around 20 activists, including Thunberg, arrested by Danish police after attempting to blockade the company’s offices. According to reports, the demonstrators demanded that Maersk cease all shipments supporting Israel’s military operations, accusing the company of complicity in what they describe as “genocide” and “occupation” in Gaza.

Thunberg herself was quoted saying, “We are here to demand that Maersk must stop all the transportation of weapons and weapon components to Israel,” emphasizing her call for Denmark to impose a full military embargo on Israel. The demonstration was part of a broader wave of activism linking corporate activities to the ongoing conflict, which has escalated since Hamas’s attack on October 7, 2023, and Israel’s subsequent military response.

Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has not publicly detailed the specifics of its cargo related to Israel in this context, but it is known to transport a wide range of goods globally, including military equipment under commercial contracts. The company’s involvement has drawn scrutiny from activists who argue that such shipments contribute to the violence in Gaza. Israel maintains that its operations target Hamas militants and are a necessary defense against terrorism, a stance supported by some Western governments, including the United States.

Thunberg’s participation in this protest aligns with her increasingly vocal pro-Palestinian stance. In December 2024, she sparked controversy at a rally in Mannheim, Germany, where she was filmed laughing while shouting expletives against Germany and Israel, drawing accusations of antisemitism from critics and pro-Israel groups. Her actions in Copenhagen further illustrate this shift, as she leverages her platform—originally built on climate advocacy—to highlight geopolitical issues of her choosing, and with her own blatant anti-Israel bias. Many are horrified and have accused her of abandoning her environmental roots or aligning with contentious causes.

The Copenhagen protest remained peaceful but firm, with police stepping in to clear the blockade. Danish authorities have not commented extensively on the arrests beyond confirming the number of detainees. Meanwhile, Denmark’s government has not signaled any immediate plans to alter its trade policies with Israel, though the country has historically supported a two-state solution and expressed concern over civilian casualties in Gaza.

This incident underscores a growing intersection of activism, where climate concerns are linked with human rights and anti-war sentiments. For Thunberg, it’s a continuation of her pattern of civil disobedience—she’s been arrested before, including at climate protests in the Netherlands and anti-Israel rallies in Denmark.