Monday 9, October
Flag of Israel at Brandenburg Gate, Flag of Palestine at Hermannplatz
This weekend saw a number of demonstrations across Berlin in response to the news of the attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamic militant group Hamas. On Sunday afternoon, around 2,000 people came to Brandenburg Gate – which was lit up in Israeli colours – to express sympathy with those killed and wounded in Israel. A speech was given by Berlin’s mayor Kai Wegner (CDU), who condemned the attacks.
On the other side of the city, a spontaneous demonstration was held on Saturday evening at the corner of Sonnenallee and Reuterstraße by supporters of the Palestinian cause. The event, broadcast though live stream by the activist group Samidoun, was broken up at 22.30 with police claiming it constituted an “immediate threat to public safety” due to “anti-Israel” chants “glorifying violence”.
Nearby, on Hermannplatz, the Palestinian flag appeared painted on a monument on Saturday. Police painted over the symbol that evening, but it reappeared in the same place on Sunday.