October 7th: Palestine demo in Berlin: Thunberg at a protest in Kreuzberg
Quick Look
- On the third anniversary of the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, a few hundred people demonstrated in Berlin for Palestine and against the war in the Gaza Strip.
- The mostly young participants gathered on Oranienplatz in Kreuzberg, then marched through the district and shouted slogans such as "Viva, viva Palestine" and "There is only one solution.
- Intifada Revolution".
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people in Israel and the abduction of 251 people in the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with a military offensive that led to a protracted war with tens of thousands of deaths. The third anniversary of this event sparked demonstrations around the world, including in Berlin.
On the third anniversary of the terrorist attack by the Islamist Hamas on Israel, several hundred people demonstrated in Berlin for Palestine and against the war in the Gaza Strip. The predominantly young women and men gathered in Kreuzberg on Oranienplatz in the evening and displayed Palestinian flags and banners. Police spokesman Florian Nath initially spoke of 700 participants. Among them was the Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg.
The demonstrators then marched through Kreuzberg - until the police ended the demonstration "due to repeated numerous violations of the requirements and a significant threat to public safety."
“Viva, viva Palestine”
During the demonstration, participants chanted things like: “Viva, viva Palestine” or “There is only one solution. Intifada Revolution». Intifada refers to uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation in the late 1980s and early 2000s with numerous attacks and suicide bombings - with many deaths on both sides.
A large poster read “One genocide does not justify another.” The police accompanied the procession on all sides.
Police officers attacked
Later in the evening the police stopped the demonstration. Nath explained that there were crimes against police officers during the demonstration, such as pushing and kicking, and there were also occasional scuffles between demonstrators and police officers. The officers arrested more than ten people for using banned license plates, such as symbols of the terrorist organization Hamas.
Also demo with Israel flags
At the beginning of the demonstration, a dozen people stood on the other side of the street with Israeli flags. One demonstrator carried a banner that read “Shame on you.” The police were present with a large contingent at the starting point of the demonstration, which was supposed to move to Hermannplatz in Neukölln.
In the massacre by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7, 2023, around 1,200 people were killed and 251 were kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. Israel responded with a military offensive in the Gaza Strip. It led to a prolonged war in which tens of thousands of people were killed.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Further investigations are underway against those arrested for using banned Hamas symbols.
Very likely · Within weeks
The Berlin police will monitor future pro-Palestinian demonstrations more closely and, if necessary, end them earlier.
Likely · Within months
Open Questions
- How many of those arrested were charged based on Hamas symbols?
- Will there be more demonstrations on the anniversary of the Hamas attack?
- How do German authorities assess the risk of an escalation of the Middle East conflict on German soil?
