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100,000 people in Berlin: Historic rally for Gaza!
On September 28, 2025, up to 100,000 people demonstrated in Berlin for Gaza, demanding a stop to weapons, humanitarian aid and the right to self-determination.
100,000 people in Berlin: Historic rally for Gaza!
Last Saturday evening, around 100,000 people gathered at the Großer Stern in Berlin for the largest solidarity rally for the Palestinian population in Gaza that Germany has ever seen. Under the title “All Eyes on Gaza – Stop the Genocide!” Participants called for an immediate stop to arms deliveries to Israel, unhindered access for humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and an end to the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. The event was marked by political speeches denouncing the Israeli army's war crimes and was accompanied by a colorful concert featuring well-known artists such as KIZ and Aya Samra. With so many people on the streets, the country showed solidarity with a drama that no longer seems distant.
The police estimated the number of participants to be significantly lower than the organizers, at around 60,000 instead of 100,000. But that didn't stop the mood, which was characterized by peaceful chants and posters like “Free, free Palestine”. The demonstration began at the Red Town Hall and ended at the Victory Column in the Tiergarten. Almost 1,800 officers were deployed to accompany the meeting. The police reported that overall it was “mostly very peaceful”, but were unable to avoid minor incidents. A separate, smaller demonstration in Kreuzberg with around 1,500 participants was broken up because of “forbidden shouts” and there were several arrests.
A sign of solidarity
Basem Said, one of the initiators of the rally, described the day as a historic success, despite the pain of the ongoing genocide. Iman Abu El Qomsan, also part of the organizing team, spoke of her personal grief over the loss of more than 80 family members in Gaza and called on the federal government to take action against the killing. Katja Müller-Fahlbusch from Amnesty International and Riad Othman from medico international joined the calls and highlighted the need to respect the human rights of the Palestinian population. The events illustrate how important it is that the voice of civil society is heard in such critical times.
At the same time, the international reaction to the Gaza conflict also became louder. As the daily news reports, Human Rights Watch makes serious allegations against Israel. Refusal of services during the evacuations in the Gaza Strip were classified as forced relocations. Almost 90% of the 2.2 million people in the Gaza Strip have been forced to leave their homes several times. COGAT, the Israeli military authority, denies these allegations and claims that the evacuations are a protection for civilians in the war with Hamas.
Looking back at the conflict that began with Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, numerous lives are at stake. Thousands have already died and international organizations have declared famine in parts of the Gaza Strip.
The way into the future
The protests in Berlin are not only an expression of solidarity, but also reflect the urgent desire for peace and a solution to the conflict. Ines Schwerdtner, leader of the Left, spoke of an “impressive sign of solidarity” and it remains to be seen whether such demonstrations and the voice of civil society can move political decision-makers in Germany and internationally. The diverse voices that speak out against violence and for human dignity are a valuable asset in times when the suffering seems immeasurable.