Reportage: Two prominent pro-Palestinian voices – Greta Thunberg and Francesca Albanese – visited AU

AU's largest auditorium, the Per Kirkeby Auditorium, was packed on Friday evening as Swedish activist Greta Thunberg made an appearance alongside Italian international lawyer Francesca Albanese, who has been appointed 'Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967' since 2022.

The two speakers received a big round of applause and cheers as they took the stage. Greta Thunberg wore a keffiyeh around her shoulders – a scarf that many in the audience also wore that evening. 

The evening's talk was characterised by an unmoderated conversation between two like-minded speakers who were free to set the agenda in front of an audience, many of whom seemed to share their views.

“It's so nice and heartwarming to be in a room with people who are on the right side of history,” said Greta Thunberg, who became world-famous for her climate activism when she, as a student, went on strike for the climate. Since then, she has advocated for climate action in major international forums and led climate demonstrations in a number of countries.

In recent years, she has also been involved in the pro-Palestinian cause and was arrested during a pro-Palestinian demonstration at the University of Copenhagen last year, where she and other protesters attempted to occupy the university's main building. Her linking of climate activism with the pro-Palestinian cause has been criticised and has led some climate activists to distance themselves from her. On Friday, she explained why she believes the linking of the two cases is necessary.

“Whether we are fighting for climate justice or justice for the Palestinian people, it's about opposing and challenging the same exploitative and racist systems.”

Later, she said that at its core, it’s about believing that all people are equal.

“I became an activist because I care about justice and about people. It's not radical to say that other people have the right to self-determination and justice,” she explained.

Accuses Israel of genocide

The evening's main speaker, Francesca Albanese, has also been a subject of controversy since she was appointed UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian territories in 2022. Among others, the German and French foreign ministries have distanced themselves from her statements, as previously described in Omnibus.

The role of UN Special Rapporteur is assigned to an independent expert who reports to the UN Human Rights Council on the human rights situation in the Palestinian territories. Therefore, Albanese does not speak on behalf of the UN.

In November last year, Albanese published the report 'Anatomy of a genocide', which was also the title of the evening's lecture in Aarhus. In her report, Albanese concludes that there is reasonable grounds to believe, according to her, that Israel has committed genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza. This conclusion was also the underlying premise of the evening's lecture. A premise that was neither challenged nor explored in depth during the evening. But Albanese did say:

“Look at the numbers. 17,000 children alone have been killed.”

However, she emphasised that genocide does not necessarily require mass killings.

“It is genocide because the intention has been to destroy the people as a whole, not just Palestinians as individuals. This is not just a war crime – why are they destroying all the hospitals and universities? It's not just about destroying the present and the future – it's about erasing the past. There will be no identity left and no chance to rebuild life in Gaza,” she said.

Whether Israel has committed genocide in Gaza is disputed. Currently, a case is ongoing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's primary judicial body, where South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Israel has denied the allegations and demanded the case be dismissed, arguing its right to defend itself after Hamas' attack on Israel on 7 October 2023. The ICJ has agreed to hear the case but has not yet passed judgment.  

Drew parallels to European colonial history

Francesca Albanese began the evening by explaining why she sees the situation in Palestine as central to understanding other similar struggles for justice, and indeed the global fight for justice: According to her, the source of these conflicts stems from Western colonial history.  

“In the West, we don't talk about the 500 years of our history that have shaped our DNA, European democracies, and Western democracies such as the USA and Australia, New Zealand. All are the result of colonialism and – I'm sorry to say it – genocide,” she said, referring to the atrocities committed by European colonial powers against indigenous populations.

She continued:

“The Global South knows exactly what colonialism means because they are victims of it.”

Later in the evening, Albanese addressed the two-state solution, which many countries – including Denmark – see as the path to peace between Israel and Palestine.

“But a few years ago, along with others, I called the bluff because – as many Palestinians say – how can you support this without recognising the Palestinian state?”

Student movement

The lecture with Francesca Albanese and Greta Thunberg was organised by the student organisation Palestinian Solidarity Action Aarhus (PSA Aarhus), which is also behind three student strikes and a petition at AU. The petition, which included a call for Aarhus University to implement an academic boycott of Israeli universities, was presented to the university’s board in December 2023.

Ida Kusk, who studies Arabic and Islamic Studies at AU and is active in PSA Aarhus, was among the students behind the petition – and she also represented PSA at the evening’s event. In her welcome speech, she strongly criticised Aarhus University:

“When we handed over the signatures to the management and the board, I asked them: What kind of world do you want to be part of; a world where you enable genocide through partnerships with Israeli institutions and arms manufacturers? Or a world where human rights, justice, and academic freedom exist? Their silence and lack of action over the past year have spoken volumes.”

She further criticised AU for sending students to The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, before making it clear that, in her opinion, neither a ceasefire nor humanitarian pauses in the hostilities are sufficient:

“Nothing less than freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people, and an end to the Israeli occupation, will bring justice,” she said, urging the audience not just to listen, but to take action.

Greta Thunberg, a supporter of the global pro-Palestinian student movement, also emphasised the role of students in the pro-Palestinian cause:  

“Students across the globe have done an incredible job documenting their educational institutions’ responsibilities – including their ties to the military industry,” she said.

Advice for the young and the older generation

The evening concluded with an opportunity for the audience to ask questions. Among other things, they were asked to share their best advice for their respective generations. Greta Thunberg started with her advice to her generation:

“Use your anger and the feeling of betrayal. And use your love for what remains. Use it to fight the system,” she said. Francesca Albanese then asked Greta Thunberg for advice for her own generation. 

“How can I say this without swearing,” Greta Thunberg began, before urging Albanese’s generation to be aware of their privileges and join the fight:

“Wake up! You can't rely on burned-out young people to fix it for you. We can’t! It's the older generation that holds the power.”

Albanese's advice to the younger generation was:

“Keep being brave, keep dreaming,” and then she urged them to get involved in politics:

“Politics is not a dirty thing, get involved in politics, it will help us. We can fight both outside and within the system.” 

Her advice to her own generation was more direct:

“Get off the couch! You need to get back on the streets with more in mind than shopping! The students have been left alone. Students stood with workers when they fought for their rights, so why aren't workers standing with students today?”

Francesca Albanese and Greta Thunberg received a long standing ovation from the audience, with many shouting: “Viva Palestine!”