Tens of thousands of people marched through Berlin on Saturday, demanding an end to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Protesters chanted slogans like “free, free Palestine” and called for urgent action to stop Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Police deployed 1,800 officers to monitor the 50,000 demonstrators who marched from Alexanderplatz to the Victory Column.
Demonstrators urged Germany to halt arms exports to Israel and pressured the European Union to impose sanctions.
Fifty organizations, including Amnesty International and Die Linke, coordinated the rally, while some smaller protests faced police intervention.
Clashes and Counter-Demonstrations
About 100 people rallied in Berlin to support Israel and oppose antisemitism, according to German broadcaster RBB.
Scuffles occurred when pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel groups met, though authorities have not confirmed the details of the clashes.
Authorities broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Kreuzberg after participants shouted anti-Israel slogans.
Protests Spread Across Europe Amid Gaza War
Several thousand people marched in Düsseldorf demanding freedom for Palestinians and justice for Gaza’s civilians.
Around 6,000 people demonstrated in Geneva for peace and an end to the conflict in Gaza.
The Gaza war began after Hamas struck southern Israel on 7 October 2023, killing nearly 1,200 civilians and kidnapping 251.
Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 65,100 people in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry.
Germany has traditionally supplied Israel with military hardware but recently paused exports due to public criticism.
Officials remain concerned about Gaza’s civilian suffering while balancing diplomatic positions within the European Union.
