In Berlin, Germany, a Palestinian flag was painted on a monument near Sonnenallee after Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7, highlighting the fault lines in Germany during the Middle East violence escalation. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pledged German support for Israel and crackdown on Hamas activities and sympathizers. Pro-Palestinian protests, Palestinian flags, and speeches have been banned in various parts of the country, with police violence reported in major cities like Frankfurt, Munich, and Berlin.
Berlin has a large Palestinian diaspora community, and cultural institutions have faced pressure to cancel events critical of the Israeli state. Authorities are taking measures to prevent public disorder and anti-Semitism. However, pro-Palestinian supporters believe that these measures are leading to the criminalization of Palestinians and an attack on their rights to speak out against Israel’s attacks.
Palestinian activists in Germany are being racially profiled and prevented from openly mourning the losses in Gaza. German authorities have a longstanding commitment to supporting Israel due to ‘Staatsraeson’, or ‘reason of state’. The repression of Palestinian voices in Germany is seen as a reflection of the country’s ongoing efforts to atone for the Holocaust, while neglecting to address the Nakba in relation to the Palestinian struggle.
Despite protest bans, demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine have taken place across Germany, with pressure mounting on authorities to end the crackdown. Pro-Palestinian activists are calling for Germany to condemn the crimes against humanity and apartheid committed by Israel and stand on the right side of history. They view the current restrictions as an attempt to silence and terrorize Palestinians in their daily lives.
