A group of pro-Palestinian activists has voluntarily left the building of the Humboldt University in Berlin, which they had been occupying since Wednesday. The police are working to identify all the occupiers in order to fulfill their obligation for criminal prosecution. Videos showed that the occupiers committed property damage and defaced walls and windows with pro-Hamas symbols. University staff accompanied the occupiers to a designated area where their personal information was recorded. Around 7pm, a group of helmeted police officers entered the building through the main entrance and began the evacuation, escorting individuals to the designated area under slight coercion.
As the activists exited the building, they displayed victory signs and chanted “Viva Palestine” and “The students united will never be defeated.” Approximately 200 demonstrators cheered the activists on from behind a police barricade, while others chanted against the police. One activist cried for help as she was escorted individually towards the designated area. The front rows of demonstrators were mostly young women wearing pro-Palestine scarves, chanting, “Yallah, Yallah, Resistance, everywhere in this land.”
Inside the designated area, Humboldt University President Julia von Blumenthal and HU Professor Michael Wildt were present. Von Blumenthal stated that the decision to end the occupation came from higher authorities and was in agreement with the Mayor. When asked about claims of a genocide in Gaza, she expressed skepticism, stating she does not see evidence of Israel’s goal being to destroy the population in Gaza. Wildt ensured the safe exit of the students and claimed not to have seen any images of pro-Hamas slogans on the walls.
The previous day, 23 pro-Palestinian activists were briefly detained by the Berlin police to verify their identities. 25 criminal investigations were opened, including charges of using symbols of unconstitutional organizations, vandalism, and resisting law enforcement. One officer was injured during the operation but remained on duty. The young demonstrators accuse Israel of genocide and ongoing mass murders, advocating for unconditional solidarity with the Palestinian people and demanding an end to all military, financial, and diplomatic aid to Israel, as well as scientific cooperation.
Videos shared on social media showed the occupiers vandalizing the interior walls of the university building with highly anti-Semitic messages, including crossed out pig heads in reference to the anti-Semitic “Judensau” metaphor, and red triangles used by Hamas to mark enemies. They also called on the German government to cease supplying weapons to Israel. The demonstrators outside the building continued to chant in support of Palestine and called for an end to all cooperation with Israeli institutions. Protests against Israel’s military actions in Gaza have been ongoing at universities in Germany and worldwide following an escalation triggered by a violent attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7.
