Peaceful Egyptian gathering concludes incident-free. - Incident-free conclusion of pro-Palestinian gathering
In the heart of Berlin, at the Kreuzberg Paul-Linke-Ufer, a pro-Palestinian solidarity event recently took place under the theme "Neukölln stands together - Solidarity with the people in Palestine." However, the event has sparked controversy, with allegations that it was associated with Harakat el-Mukawame el-Islamije, another name for Hamas.
While there is no evidence of an established history of cooperation between Left-wing groups in Neukölln and Hamas, criticism of the event centers on accusations that some left-wing activism overlaps with or does not clearly reject Hamas-linked rhetoric or actions.
The German authorities have been firm in their stance against Hamas, with the Constitutional Protection Agency reporting supporters of Hamas and the secular-left nationalist terror organization PFLP working closely together in Berlin under this label. The authorities have also emphasized zero tolerance for glorification or support of Hamas terrorism.
Prominent figures such as Moritz Wimmer, the chairman of the Young Liberals Berlin, have criticized the event, stating that inviting more or less open Hamas supporters was an absolute taboo breach. The Anti-Semitism Commissioner of the Federal Government, Felix Klein, described the event as scandalous.
The program overview of the event listed the "United Palestinian National Committee," and a representative of this group gave a speech. Among those who called for protests at the event location were the Werteinitiative association and the Young Liberals Berlin, the youth organization of the FDP.
Despite these controversies, the Neukölln Left, the organizers of the event, stated that they assumed there was no connection to Hamas among the invited guests. The Berlin police estimated the number of participants at the event to be 350, while Wimmer estimated the number of participants in the counter-demonstration to be around 40.
The speaker at the event emphasized that "human rights are indivisible" and concluded his contribution with "long live international solidarity." A large banner of the counter-demonstrators read "Together against left-wing, right-wing, and Islamic anti-Semitism."
It's important to note that left groups like Die Linke have condemned Hamas attacks while supporting Palestinian rights. However, internal tensions within the party have been highlighted, with several prominent members leaving over disputes related to these issues.
The event in Neukölln is a reflection of the broader polarization in Germany regarding Israel-Palestine, where some on the left are accused of antisemitism or of glorifying violent resistance, though such claims are contested and often lead to debate about distinguishing legitimate political activism from hate speech.
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- EC countries, amidst the controversy surrounding the pro-Palestinian solidarity event in Neukölln, Berlin, are encouraged to exercise caution in their cooperation policy with political entities, considering allegations linking some left-wing activism to Hamas-linked rhetoric or actions.
- In the context of the general news, crime-and-justice, and politics, the event has triggered debates about the line between legitimate political activism and hate speech, further highlighting the polarization in Germany regarding Israel-Palestine.
