Germany: Activists brave Berlin's police despite last-minute ban on Gaza protest

Chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Viva Palestine” echoed through Berlin’s Mitte district on Tuesday evening as protestors took to the streets to stand in solidarity with Palestinians on the second anniversary of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. 

On the second anniversary of the war, the crowd was peaceful, but was met with police violence. Dozens of protesters were dragged away by officers who forced them into vans where they were placed under arrest. 

Despite being scheduled in advance and approved by Berlin’s government, the city implemented a last-minute ban without providing an explanation. 

As protesters were removed from the crowd by the police, others remained, shouting “We will not be silenced” - words that pro-Palestinian activists in Berlin have shouted countless times over the last two years. 

Berlin is at the heart of Europe’s movement for Palestinians, with thousands of protests, demonstrations and fundraisers taking place and large groups gathering every weekend.

They demand that Germany not forget the more than 67,000 Palestinians that have been killed and the 170,000 wounded in the besieged Gaza Strip during the war. 

The German capital is also believed to be home to the largest Palestinian diaspora community in Europe, an estimated 300,000 people. 

'I’m here because it’s been a terrible two years to live as a Lebanese, as an Arab, and when I’m at protests, I feel that I’m not alone'

- Zidan, Berlin

A survey released by YouGov on 23 September found that 62 percent of German voters believe Israel’s actions constitute a genocide, and support for Gaza is seen throughout the capital city. 

Graffiti reading “Gaza” and “Free Palestine” marks countless walls in Berlin, stickers on street lamps read “Stop the Genocide,” and some Berliners sport keffiyehs or earrings and necklaces embellished with small plastic watermelons during their day-to-day lives. 

Despite police brutality and arrests, for many Berliners, taking to the streets to support Palestine is one way that they can keep the genocide in Gaza at the forefront of the German conscience, and demand that their country do more to distance itself from Israel's actions. 

“I think it’s clear that Berlin and Germany stand with Palestine,” said Zidan, a Lebanese immigrant at the protest on Tuesday.

“I’m here because it’s been a terrible two years to live as a Lebanese, as an Arab, and when I’m at protests, I feel that I’m not alone. When you see people active, it’s a feeling of not being alone,” he added. 

Flotilla activists return

As protesters gathered to mark the anniversary of the war, at Berlin airport, German members of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) convoy arrived after their deportation by Israel. 

The FFC members were met by a crowd of supporters who cheered upon their arrival. Among them was Yasemin Acar, a leading German human rights activist.

“The Zionist entity deported us to Athens. Athens is not where we need to go, but they wanted to make things as complicated as possible, but finally we are home and we are very happy to be home,” Acar said on social media. 

Videos posted on social media show German police punching and violently detaining pro-Palestine protesters in Berlin. pic.twitter.com/mKQUt77mIV

— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 7, 2025

“We had a very warm welcome by the people who get up every day for two years to stand for justice, for hope, in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Acar added.

“We should be afraid of a world that is keeping silent for two years, but then for 80 years supporting an entity who is systematically oppressing Palestinians.” 

EU pressure

Currently, 157 of 193 member states of the United Nations recognise the legitimacy of a Palestinian state, yet despite mounting political pressure, Germany has yet to follow. 

European leaders have called for Germany to do more when it comes to stopping Israel’s war. 

European Union foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas has said she wants Germany to participate in sanctions against Israel, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has suggested that the EU should suspend trade advantages with Israel, which Germany has yet to agree to. 

Mother in Germany separated from one-year-old son over Palestinian activism

Read More »

Germany has not approved any new arms exports to Israel since the announcement of its partial embargo in August. But despite the embargo, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told journalists that his country “won’t be joining this initiative” of countries recognising a Palestinian state. 

“We do not consider the conditions for state recognition to be fulfilled in any way at present. Recognition must be the final step in a peace process that results in a two-state solution,” he added.  

At the protests in Berlin, Camille, an activist from France, said that the contradiction between Germany’s embargo on arms to Israel and its stance that it will currently not recognise a Palestinian state “enrages” her. 

“It’s quite ridiculous how manipulative and hypocritical this government can be, but nobody is surprised.” 

Domestically, Germany’s government is also facing pressure from some political parties to not only impose sanctions on Israel, but also to stand firmly with Palestine. 

More than 100,000 people took to the streets in Berlin on 27 September, protesting against Germany’s complicity in Israel’s genocide on Gaza. 

A broad group of 50 organisations, including pro-Palestinian groups, Medico International, Amnesty International, and the opposition Left Party, were all present. 

Signs reading “All eyes on Gaza,” and “Stop the genocide,” were raised from the crowd, and protesters raised their hands to display peace signs. 

Although massive in numbers, it was just one of many protests since the war began. For Berliners like Camille, every weekend march is proof that silence is not an option for many in Germany.

“It’s essential to keep showing support and showing up for the less privileged ones…to protest is to fight for everybody’s rights,” the activist said. 

“At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter; it makes us feel what matters is to keep showing the world that when we are united, we hold so much power,” she added.