Festival unfolds amidst attendance of participants linked to Hamas group - Party organizer in Neukölln intends to move forward with event, despite potential attendance of individuals with links to Hamas group.
In the heart of Berlin's Neukölln district, a pro-Palestinian solidarity event is set to take place on August 9. However, the event has sparked controversy due to the planned participation of a group with ties to the Islamist militant organization, Hamas.
The United Palestinian National Committee (UPNC), a coalition of Hamas supporters recognized by German security as linked to Islamist extremism, is listed as a speaker and advertised on a poster for the festival. The UPNC, often referred to simply as the "National Committee," is described by the Berlin Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as an “umbrella” group for supporters of Hamas involved in activities supporting the Islamist militant group.
Hamas, an Islamist militant Palestinian organization that emerged from the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, governs the Gaza Strip and is designated as a terrorist organization by dozens of countries, including the United States. The group is known for its military wing, the Qassam Brigades, and has engaged in repeated conflicts with Israel since its founding.
The close association of the UPNC with Hamas in Berlin implies that the committee operates in alignment with Hamas ideology and political objectives, supporting the Hamas cause in Europe. This has raised concerns among German authorities and politicians, with the Neukölln district mayor, Martin Hikel of the SPD, and the state chairwoman of the Berlin Left, Kerstin Wolter, both expressing opposition to the involvement of groups with ties to Hamas or approving of their terror.
Hermann Nehls, co-spokesman for Left Neukölln, has stated that they have never planned to cooperate with organizations or persons close to Hamas or approving of their terror. Despite this, the domestic intelligence agency in Berlin reports that the followers of the Islamist-terrorist Hamas and the secular-left nationalist terror organization PFLP work closely together in Berlin under the umbrella term "United Palestinian National Committee."
The event, which includes interactive actions such as screen printing, a dance workshop, speeches, and music, calls for the immediate end of the genocide in Gaza, the lifting of the blockade and occupation in the West Bank, the cessation of weapons deliveries to Israel, and the release of hostages by Hamas.
The controversy surrounding the event has led to the cancellation of the venue. The solidarity event organized by The Left in Neukölln aims for a just peace in Palestine and Israel, but the association with Hamas and the reported antisemitic and terror-glorifying speeches by representatives linked to Hamas have fueled debates about antisemitism and extremism within such solidarity events.
The event has also been reported on by the "Bild" newspaper and the German Press Agency, adding to the public scrutiny of the event. The SPD, represented by Martin Hikel, has expressed opposition to the involvement of groups with ties to Hamas or approving of their terror, stating that it stands against anti-Muslim racism and antisemitism.
As the event approaches, it remains to be seen how the controversy will unfold, and whether the organisers will be able to distance themselves from the UPNC and its ties to Hamas.
- The debate about the pro-Palestinian solidarity event in Berlin's Neukölln district has extended beyond the local realm, with the controversy surrounding the United Palestinian National Committee (UPNC), a coalition known for its close association with Hamas, being covered by national newspapers like "Bild" and the German Press Agency.
- As the August 9 event approaches, German politics and policy-and-legislation are grappling with the implications of the UPNC's involvement, given that the committee is recognized by German security as an "umbrella" group for supporters of Hamas, a terrorist organization labeled as such by dozens of countries.
- The controversy has sparked a broader discussion about war-and-conflicts and general-news, as the question of how to balance freedom of speech and assembly with concerns over crime-and-justice and extremism becomes increasingly pressing in the context of solidarity events advocating for a just peace in Palestine and Israel.
