Greta Thunberg demands Maersk cut ties with Israel’s military supply chain

Activist Greta Thunberg demonstrating in Stockholm. Fridays for Future Climate striking is now demanding that Maersk cut ties with Israel’s military supply chain

Activist Greta Thunberg demonstrating in Stockholm. Fridays for Future Climate striking. Credit: Shutterstock/Palestiniv Oeian

Tensions flared outside Maersk’s Copenhagen HQ on Monday, February 24, as 20 protesters, including climate fireball Greta Thunberg, were cuffed for demanding the shipping giant cut ties with Israel’s military supply chain.

The demonstration, which saw activists block the entrance to the global shipping behemoth’s offices, quickly turned chaotic as Danish police moved in with batons and tear gas to break up the crowd, after they refused to budge despite being repeatedly asked to do so.

Thunberg, the 21-year-old face of the ‘Fridays for Future’ movement, didn’t mince her words. “We are here to demand that Maersk must stop all the transportation of weapons and weapon components to Israel,” she declared in a video posted online. She went further, calling for the company to scrap all contracts and investments linked to what she branded ‘genocide and occupation’ in Palestine.

This isn’t Thunberg’s first foray into political protests – while she made her name battling climate change, she’s been increasingly vocal in pro-Palestinian demonstrations since the Israel-Hamas war erupted in Gaza.

Maersk hits back

But Maersk isn’t having any of it. The shipping titan insists the cargo in question “does not contain weapons or ammunition”, instead describing it as “military-related equipment” sent under a US-Israel security cooperation programme.

“The cargo has been screened and complies with applicable laws,” a company spokesperson stated, firmly pushing back against claims it is aiding Israel’s military efforts.

Police crackdown

As tensions rose, police initially tried to talk protesters down, but when dialogue fell flat, they opted for force. “It’s private property,” a police spokesperson explained. “We tried using dialogue to get the protesters to leave the area, it’s a private area. And in the end, the dialogue stopped and then we had to use the necessary means to remove the protesters from the area.” 

It’s yet another chapter in the ever-growing wave of global protests against Western military support for Israel – and with figures like Thunberg in the mix, this storm is far from over.

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Written by

Marc Menendez-Roche

Marc is a writer, educator, and language enthusiast with a background in business and legal communication. With over a decade of experience in writing and teaching, he brings a clear, engaging voice to complex topics—guided by a keen interest in educational neuroscience and how people learn. At Euro Weekly News, Marc contributes lifestyle features and community-focused stories that highlight everyday life across Spain. His ability to connect language, learning, and lived experience helps bring depth and relatability to the topics he covers.

Comments


    • Brian

      25 February 2025 • 12:56

      For once, I agree totally with her! The Israelis have been stealing land from Palestine for over 70 years (not that I am a supporter of Hamas etc) plus blocking vital emergency support from outside while bombing the s..t out of the civilians while claiming Hamas is hiding amongst them! How do they know exactly who is where?

    • Jean Noel Foulard

      26 February 2025 • 11:08

      I don´t agree with anything this stupid woman says, she has no idea about the weather or politics. The Jews have lived in Israel for thousands of years, long before the islamic cult was thought of, admittedly they returned in their thousands after WW2 but the Arabs have had plenty opportunity to resolve the problems and chosen not too. So I am totally with Israel on this and it is a problem that will never be resolved in my lifetime because the Arabs don´t want it to be resolved. Hamas are a terrorist group and deserves to be destroyed. I wish Israel all the best in destroying this group of terrorists

      • Neil Johnston

        26 February 2025 • 15:48

        @Jean Noel Foulard
        How does it make sense that because some Jews have lived there it gives unrelated Jews the right to come in and take land away from the Palestinians??

        • Jean Noel Foulard

          26 February 2025 • 18:18

          Obviously you are a reader of the Legacy press. You use the word Palestinians as if this give some people mega rights, the name Palestine is actually a very new name for what was originally Israel, The name Palestine is not the original name of this country or location. The original name is Israel and the jews have inhabited this land for thousands of years, thousands of years. Islam is a new sect, The Jews were in Israel long before Islam was created. And as far as I know, the Jewish people just did not just appear in Israel in 1948 and say this looks like a nice place, lets turn it from a desert into a garden of Eden. The Arabs did nothing with the land they occupied, they lived there and enjoyed it. But remember this it was the Arabs that attacked the Jewish people in 1948, they attacked the Jewish people the same way as Hamas attacked them at the music festival. The Arabs lost both times and many times in between. But here is the question Neil, since the Jewish people lived in Israel for thousands of years before islam appeared on the horizon does that not give them some legitimacy? Because you comment makes absolutely no sense to me. We know the Jews lived there thousands of years ago, why? because the modern calendar is based on Christ living in Israel, the bible tells us that, the story of Christmas tells us that, and the story death of Christ and Easter tells us that, the bible tells us a great deal about the Jews being there in Israel long long long before any moslem sect appeared in Israel. And of course some Jews have always lived in Israel for thousands of years, they did not all leave the land of Israel, some have actually been there for thousands of years. So I guess they have a legitimate claim to Israel being their homeland, they actually have a more solid claim than the new arrivals, the islamic sect who believe in only death and mayhem.

    • Davey Roberts

      26 February 2025 • 11:47

      Reading the comments a few minutes ago and then I looked again, I think the comments have been removed as they were telling the truth and telling the truth in newspapers these days is unusual, normally the MSM or the Legacy press just spout rubbish or Woke nonsense but I don´t understand an advertising spread sheet would remove comments, they looked ok to me, no offensive words other than being true. So whats happen EWN, you don´t like telling the truth or what?

      • Adam Woodward

        27 February 2025 • 16:51

        The only comments that are removed are hacker attempts, spam, ones with links (mostly spam), or with foul language. We encourage freedom of speech and expression. It’s always good to hear from our readers and their opinions.

    • Jean Noel Foulard

      26 February 2025 • 11:48

      Just read the comments, I am not sure where Brian comes from but obviously there is no TV or newspapers because if I remember correctly, correct me if I am wrong, but didn´t Hamas attacked a music festival and killed many people, they murdered and raped hundreds of people then took many hostages. And now they are upset because Israel hit back at them. Sorry but I have no sympathy for Hamas or people living in Gaza, they are all complicit in the heinous act, they voted Hamas into power and keep them in power. Maybe this time the people of Gaza will not vote for the terrorist group called Hamas, who knows but as far as I can see they got their just deserts from the Israelis. Also remember that Hamas could have stopped these attacks at anytime by giving up the hostages but chose not too. They are totally complicit in the deaths of all people in Gaza. They broke the peace treaty, they killed and raped many people and they kept the hostages imprisoned so. I have absolutely no sympathy for these people, and the strange thing is, I am sure everyone has noticed but none of the other Middle East countries care about the people in Gaza because the people of the Middle East view them as absolute terrorists. Oh! sorry I forgot one country did support Hamas and that was the terrorist state of Iran, funny old world eh?

    • Philip

      26 February 2025 • 11:51

      Thunberg is an arrogant self opinionated sick woman. The actions of Hamas on October 7 and since have been unforgivable.
      Unfortunately the innocent are often injured or killed in any conflict but seeing the behaviour of the spectators during hostage returns engenders little sympathy for them.

    • Brian

      26 February 2025 • 14:06

      All very well for you all to support the Israelis but how convenient you also forget the crimes the Isrealis have committed against the Palestinians for over 70 years! Like I said, I don’t support Hamas or their religions but I know through my father’s personal experiences in Palestine after Israel was “created” when he left the UK 8th army and was posted to the Palestine police for 12 months before returning home to Surrey.

    • CCW60

      26 February 2025 • 15:05

      Greta once again knows nothing about the things she is being used to grandstand about. She’s a propaganda tool and a fool. Get rid of Hamas and the people will figure out how to work out their problems. As long as the terrorist organization, Hamas occupies those lands they will continue to wreak havoc and terror for BOTH SIDES. May have helped if the U.S. under the Biden administration hadn’t sent Hamas millions of dollars while at the same time pretending to support Israel. Media barely reported on the millions Biden sent to Hamas to keep the war of horrors going. Corruption is everywhere!

    • Tony

      26 February 2025 • 16:31

      Brian does not have a clue as to what is going on in Israel. What is not said is what is being done for the Palestinians by Israelis and UK expats living there. They get free health care, hospital treatment. Collections are made for food, clothing, bedding etc etc. 25% of the population is made up of non Jews. There are many Arabs living and working very happily in Israel. Many of them are cab drivers. It’s very easy for the TV cameras to show the devastation. But rarely say why it has happened. Palestinian children are taught at a very young age to hold a rifle. They are taught in schools to hate Jews. They then grow up full of hatred. Iran is the instigator behind most of the fighting. Their religious leaders have viewed to destroy Israel and kill all Jews. Why is it that is is always the religious ones that spout hatred. One only has to look back at the problems in Ireland and how the Reverend Ian Paisley stoked the fires. There will never be peace until Iran moves on and votes in better leaders. Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah are reduced to a point where they can never be in a position to attack Israel. As has been stated in other comments Hamas started this war. The Palestinians did not attempt to stop it so regrettably they got what they deserved. You reap what you sow. Instead of criticising Israel I suggest these people go over there and experience a few weeks travelling around. Talk to Israelis they might be very surprised at how nice and normal they are. I have 2 nephews and a niece who were drafted. Everyday their families were desperately worried. Their jobs included going into the tunnels. Just try and imagine what it was like for these young people doing something they did not want to do but had to. So pleased people of all religions, race, and political beliefs please stop and think before you pass comment because unless you live in Israel you do not have a clue.

      • Brian

        27 February 2025 • 18:16

        Sorry but I know plenty about what has gone on and what is going on.

    Comments are closed.