Hundreds of people in Berlin organized rallies and demonstrations on Saturday ahead of the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks on Israel.
Nearly 500 police officers were on duty, the police reported on online platform X. Officers have been preparing for a major operation all weekend, as numerous gatherings have also been announced for Sunday.
The number of participants was initially relatively low.
Demonstrations are also planned in other parts of Germany. Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Hamburg and initially protested peacefully against the war in Gaza.
According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the domestic intelligence agency, the focus of the protests is likely to be in the capital.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration in Tempelhof
Hundreds of people gathered in Berlin on Saturday near the former Tempelhof airport for a pro-Palestinian demonstration titled ‘One year of genocide – and the world is watching. Against police brutality.’
At the start of the meeting, the police estimated the number of participants at around 500. After the protest march had started, there were talk of more than 1,000 participants. The crowd grew by several hundred people along the route, but did not reach 2,000 participants.
The demonstrators marched from Tempelhof through the Kreuzberg district to the Brandenburg Gate.
Many of the participants waved Palestinian flags and signs read “Free Palestine.” A large, blood-red banner read “Stop the Blood Genoicide of Israel.”
Several protesters held up photos of police officers during operations, denouncing police brutality.
Speeches criticized German arms deliveries to Israel. The tone was sometimes aggressive. The mood among the demonstrators was heated. According to the police, the participants chanted prohibited slogans several times.
Others showed forbidden symbols. Six demonstrators were briefly arrested for this reason, according to the police.
Pro-Israel rally in Berlin’s Mitte district
A large crowd gathered in front of Humboldt University in central Berlin for a pro-Israel rally that passed through the city’s Mitte district.
Police estimated that about 650 people participated. Some of them waved Israeli flags, others carried a large banner condemning global anti-Semitism, the theme of the meeting. Members of the radical left Antifa movement also took part.
According to the police, the demonstration reached its conclusion in the afternoon without major disturbances.
However, it is said that 26 people tried to force their way into the protest march. According to the spokesperson, the police intervened. Skirmishes broke out.
According to police, those involved came from the pro-Palestinian camp. They were charged with breach of the peace.
A police spokesman described the overall flow of the day’s events as ‘largely trouble-free’.
Ten arrested after anti-Israel chants at Alexanderplatz
Late Friday night, police intervened in pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Berlin’s central Alexanderplatz over anti-Israel chants and actions, resulting in 10 temporary arrests on Friday evening, according to police reports.
One incident involved a man tearing up paper Israeli flags during a “Vigil for Gaza” rally.
At another rally titled “Stop the War,” which peaked at about 100 participants, police reported that anti-Israel or slogans demeaning Israel were repeatedly chanted. The leaders of the meeting were urged to moderate the participants.
According to police, about 60 people took part in the vigil, while about 400 officers were on site.
Investigations are ongoing into suspicions of insults and suspicions of the use of identification data of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations.
Furthermore, the 40-year-old mother of an 11-year-old child is being investigated on suspicion of violating her duty of care and upbringing.
This is because, according to the police, speeches were deliberately made by underage children during the ‘Stop the War’ rally, who cannot yet be held accountable under criminal law.
Heavy police presence
The planned demonstrations have led to a large-scale police operation to keep the peace. The police union said it expected an “urban, dynamic situation” in the capital.
In addition, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warned of an increase in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic protests.
BFV chairman Thomas Haldenwang said the current situation offers significant potential for “heightened emotions, polarization and radicalization” among previously moderate actors.
Faeser calls for tough action against anti-Semitism
German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced a strong police response to any anti-Semitic incidents during rallies and demonstrations.
As tensions have risen due to ongoing violence in the Middle East, Faeser, in an interview published by the Tagesspiegel newspaper, stressed the need for space to grieve while ensuring peaceful protests, which she described as essential for democracy.
However, she warned that any expression of hatred towards Jews, calls for the destruction of Israel, Islamic propaganda or attacks on emergency services would be met with swift police action.
Faeser reiterated her full support for law enforcement actions to maintain public safety during these events.
Meanwhile, Iris Spranger, who is responsible for security in the regional administration of the city-state of Berlin, told dpa on Saturday that her position is clear: “Hate, slander and anti-Semitism have no place on the streets of Berlin.”
“We will do everything we can to ensure that the demonstrations around October 7 can take place peacefully and safely,” she added.
