Ongoing demonstration against a Palestein-supporting gathering or function - Persistent demonstration opposing pro-Palestinian gathering
In the heart of Berlin, a pro-Palestinian event titled "Neukölln stands together - Solidarity with the people in Palestine" took place at the Kreuzberg Paul-Linke-Ufer. The event, which aimed to show support for Palestinians, was met with controversy and protests.
The event was criticized due to the participation of a group with ties to the Islamist terrorist organization Hamas, although it is important to note that there is no publicly available evidence that Hamas officially participates in pro-Palestinian events in Germany. German authorities maintain strong legal and political measures against Hamas due to its designation as a terrorist organization.
Felix Klein, the Federal Government's Anti-Semitism Commissioner, described the event as scandalous. The Werteinitiative association and the Young Liberals Berlin, the youth organization of the FDP, called for protests at the event location in Kreuzberg.
Initially, several dozen protesters gathered, some carrying an Israel flag. However, the number of protesters dwindled in the evening, with estimates ranging from around 40 by Moritz Wimmer, chairman of the Werteinitiative association, to several hundred participants reported by the Left in Neukölln. The Berlin police have yet to release their official numbers.
Protesters criticized the event as a "taboo breach" and accused the organizers of inviting "more or less open Hamas supporters." On the other hand, the speaker at the solidarity event emphasized that human rights are indivisible and that Neukölln stands together for Palestine.
A representative of the United Palestinian National Committee gave a speech at the event, calling for a complete halt to all weapons deliveries to Israel, an immediate ceasefire, free access for international aid organizations, and an end to the blockade of the Gaza Strip.
The United Palestinian National Committee, which has been mobilizing for public gatherings related to the Middle East conflict since the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, has been a point of concern in the days leading up to the event. According to the 2024 report by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the United Palestinian National Committee works closely in Berlin with supporters of the Islamist-terrorist Hamas and the secular-left nationalist terrorist organization PFLP, and should be classified as enemies of the constitution with anti-Israeli attitudes.
Antisemitic or anti-Israeli propaganda is often expressed by the United Palestinian National Committee. Notably, the speaker at the event made no mention of the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel, the killing of hundreds of Jewish people, or the fate of the Israeli hostages. A large banner of the protesters read, "Together against left-wing, right-wing, and Islamic anti-Semitism."
Germany's stance on the matter is complex, shaped by the Hamas designation, pro-Palestinian demonstrations, legal implications, political climate, refugee policy, and human rights considerations. Expressing solidarity with Palestinians is permitted, but express support for Hamas, or its symbols, can lead to arrests or prosecution under anti-terrorism statutes. Additionally, public discourse strongly emphasizes Israel’s right to exist, with laws requiring recognition of this right in citizenship tests and public grants.
In summary, while pro-Palestinian events occur in Germany, they must operate within strict legal constraints to avoid promoting or affiliating with Hamas, which is classified as a terrorist group by Germany. Violation of these laws can lead to criminal consequences.
- Cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and those of the Middle East, specifically with Palestine, becomes a delicate matter in German politics, as events that display solidarity with Palestinians must operate within strict legal constraints to avoid promoting or affiliating with organizations like Hamas, designated as a terrorist group in Germany.
- Amidst the general news, debates, and controversies related to war and conflicts, the event titled "Neukölln stands together - Solidarity with the people in Palestine" at Paul-Linke-Ufer in Berlin was met with criticism for its links to Islamist terrorist organizations, leading to protests and disputes on the matter of cooperation with the countries of Palestine in Central and Eastern Europe.
