Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on a street in West Berlin, waving flags and holding signs with communist slogans. The demonstration was supposedly in remembrance of the “expulsion” of Arabs from Israeli-Palestinian territory around the time of Israel’s founding in 1948. Despite inaccuracies in the numbers mentioned, the focus of the demonstration was on condemning what the participants referred to as a “genocide” in Gaza, accusing Israel of killing thousands of civilians. The Berlin police estimated the number of participants to be around 600.
The protesters chanted slogans calling for an end to the “Gaza genocide” and accusing Israel of killing children. The issue of civilian casualties in Gaza was highlighted, with no mention of the fact that a significant number of those killed were Hamas terrorists. While the demonstration remained peaceful on the surface, the underlying message promoted the idea that violence against Israel was justified. The concept of “Nakba”, referring to the displacement of Arabs during Israel’s independence, was central to the protest.
Participants at the demonstration expressed their desire to return to Palestine and condemned Israel as an “illegal settler colonialism” state. The discussion also touched on the plight of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, who, unlike Jewish and Arab refugees who were integrated into Israel in 1948, remained stateless in Arab countries. The conversation shifted between accusations against Israel and calls for Palestinian rights and freedom.
Amid the crowd, diverse voices were heard, including a woman expressing nostalgia for her home in Ramallah and highlighting the restrictions faced by Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. While some participants labeled Israel as a terrorist state, others voiced support for internationalism and feminism within the Palestinian cause. The presence of various political and social messages reflected the complexity and diversity of the pro-Palestinian movement in Berlin.
The demonstration also featured speeches from individuals aligning with extremist groups like the PFLP and Hamas, as well as support for the Greek party Mera 25 led by Yanis Varoufakis. Criticisms of mainstream political parties and calls for action against what was perceived as genocide in Gaza were central themes of the event. The demonstration ultimately concluded with an invitation to participate in future events, maintaining a focus on the Palestinian cause and historical grievances.
While the protest itself remained relatively peaceful, disturbances flared up later in Neukölln, with protesters setting fire to trash cans and lighting pyrotechnics. The mixed messaging and varied voices within the demonstration illustrated the complex nature of the pro-Palestinian movement in Berlin, reflecting ongoing tensions surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the global arena.
