On Saturday, numerous people gathered in front of Humboldt University for a pro-Israel rally that went through Berlin-Mitte. The police spoke of an estimated 650 participants. Some of them waved Israeli flags. The motto of the rally could be read on a large banner: “Against the anti-Semitic International.” Members of the radical left-wing Antifa movement also took part. One poster read, for example, “reclaim antifa. emancipation instead of anti-Semitism”.
The demonstration reached its end in the afternoon without any major disruptions, according to the police. However, a group of around 20 people is said to have tried to push into the protest procession. The police intervened, said the spokesman. It is still being checked whether these are people from the pro-Palestinian camp.
The demonstrators wanted to walk from Tempelhof through Kreuzberg to the Brandenburg Gate.
At the Airlift Square near the police headquarters for a “pro-Palestinian” demonstration with the title “One year of genocide – and the world is watching.” Against police violence.” The police estimated the number of participants at the start of the meeting to be around 500. After the protest march started, they spoke of more than 1,000 participants. Other people joined in, said a police spokeswoman. The demonstrators wanted to walk from Tempelhof through Kreuzberg to the Brandenburg Gate.
Many of the participants waved Palestine flags and signs read “Free Palestine.” A large banner covered in blood-red paint read “Stop Israel’s Blood Genocide” (original spelling). German arms deliveries to Israel were criticized in speeches. The tone was sometimes aggressive. The mood among the demonstrators was heated. Several of them held up photos of police officers during operations and denounced police violence.
At a so-called pro-Palestinian demonstration at Alexanderplatz in Berlin, the police intervened because of anti-Israel statements and actions. According to authorities, there were ten temporary arrests on Friday evening. In one case, this involved a man who tore up paper flags of the State of Israel at a “Vigil for Gaza” rally.
Police union expects “city-wide, dynamic situation”.
The police union expects a “city-wide, dynamic situation” in connection with the anniversary in the capital. According to the police, around 2,000 officers will be on duty for the anniversary itself, on Monday. Several commemorative events and protests have been announced.
