“We don’t accept that” Scholz condemns anti-Israel celebrations in Berlin
October 8, 2023, 4:20 p.m. Listen to article
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On the evening of Hamas’s surprise attacks on Israel, several dozen people gathered in Berlin-Neukölln to celebrate the attacks. Chancellor Scholz reacts indignantly and assures that Jews in Germany will be protected. The head of government expresses full solidarity with Israel.
Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz has condemned pro-Palestinian celebrations after the major attack on Israel by the Islamist Hamas. “We do not accept it when the hideous attacks against Israel are celebrated here on our streets,” said the SPD politician. He added: “The suffering, the destruction and the death of so many people cannot be a cause for joy for anyone.” “In these difficult times, his thoughts are with the citizens of Israel, who have suffered many victims,” said the Chancellor, adding: “Germany is at your side.” At the same time, the Chancellor announced that the protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions in Germany would be strengthened. Israeli flags were hoisted in front of the Chancellery, Bellevue Palace and the Bundestag as a sign of solidarity.
In Berlin-Neukölln, around 50 people gathered on Saturday evening for what the police said was a pro-Palestinian demonstration. The police checked the people and took appropriate measures, said a police spokesman. A video on Instagram shared by the anti-Israel network Samidoun showed a group chanting slogans. The organization distributed sweet baked goods to passers-by on Saturday afternoon, “in celebration of the victory of the resistance,” as it wrote on Instagram.
According to medical sources, at least 500 people in Israel have been killed in Hamas’ major attacks from the Gaza Strip as of Sunday afternoon. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, around 2,048 other people were injured. The Islamist Hamas surprisingly launched major attacks against Israel from Gaza on Saturday. The Palestinian organization, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU, the USA and Israel, fired more than 3,000 rockets into Israel. At the same time, armed Palestinians advanced into Israel by land, sea and air.
Scholz condemned the Hamas attacks “in the strongest possible terms.” “These acts are barbaric, they are outrageous and they cannot be justified by anything, absolutely nothing,” said the SPD politician. He spoke to Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the phone and told him that Germany was “firmly and unwaveringly” on Israel’s side. “It is clear to say: Israel has the right to defend itself against these barbaric attacks.”
The Chancellor also said that he planned to speak on the phone with Egypt’s President Abd Al-Fattah al-Sisi, from whom he hoped to play a mediating role. He will also speak to US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about how to proceed. Everything must now be done to ensure that there is “no conflagration with incalculable consequences for the entire region”. “We warn everyone against fueling and perpetuating terror in this situation,” he says.
2023-10-08 20:14:21
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