Pro-Palestinian Demonstration Held in Berlin on Al-Nakba Anniversary

BERLIN, May 16. /TASS/. A massive pro-Palestinian demonstration is taking place in Berlin's Kreuzberg district on the 78th anniversary of the Day of the Catastrophe (Al-Nakba), the defeat of Arabs in the first Arab-Israeli war of 1948-1949.

Many activists are wearing so-called Palestinian scarves, holding flags and other paraphernalia, a TASS correspondent reports.

According to the organizers, about 1,000 people registered for the demonstration entitled "The End of the Occupation of Palestine - 78 years of Al-Nakba." The activists plan to march through the streets of Berlin in the direction of Sudstern Square on the border with the Neuk·lln district, where the final rally is planned. The demonstrators chant various slogans in support of Palestine in English and German, like "Long live Palestine" and "Freedom for Palestine." The activists, among other things, call for "stopping the genocide in the Gaza Strip."

Order in the German capital is ensured by about 1,000 police officers, who were deployed to the protest site due to the high risk of riots. Last year, a similar demonstration escalated into violent clashes with police, as a result of which ten law enforcement officers and participants were injured, and more than 50 people were detained.

Al-Nakba is celebrated by Palestinians annually on May 15, the day after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.