Trouble in Paradise?

What began as a morally charged mission of solidarity is increasingly turning into a stage for power plays, symbolic politics, and geopolitical tension. Greta Thunberg, once celebrated as the uncompromising voice of youth, has been removed from the lead vessel of the Global Sumud Flotilla after internal disputes. The message is clear: her media reach is needed – her physical presence on board, less so. She remains part of the mission, but no longer at its center.

Behind the scenes, tensions are rising. Thunberg’s uncompromising style, which made her an icon, now seems to divide rather than unite within the complex activist milieu. Communication breakdowns, strategic disagreements, growing resentment over her dominance – Greta has become a liability. The flotilla, which presents itself as a humanitarian initiative, increasingly resembles a fractured PR convoy with a fragile facade.

Then came the next scandal: an alleged drone strike on the lead ship. Dramatic footage, fiery rhetoric – but Tunisian authorities firmly deny it. “No basis,” says the Interior Ministry. Instead of targeted sabotage, they suspect mundane causes: a signal flare, a cigarette, a technical fault. The gap between the activists’ narrative and the official account raises questions – including about the credibility of the mission itself. And looming over it all: Qatar as the main sponsor. An authoritarian Gulf state investing millions into Western activist projects – while pursuing its own agenda.

The connection raises uncomfortable questions: How independent is this mission really? Who benefits from the spectacle? And why is Greta the face of a project funded by Qatar? What remains is an image of Greta Thunberg as a projection surface: embraced by the media, unwelcome in the engine room. Once a climate icon – now a Jew hater.