15,000 people demand United for Gaza in Berlin: protests are peaceful

15,000 people demand United for Gaza in Berlin: protests are peaceful

On June 21, 2025, around 15,000 people gathered in Berlin for a protest demonstration against the arms deliveries to Israel and the attacks on Gaza. This reports daily news. Originally only 5,000 participants were registered, but the response was overwhelming. Under the motto “United for Gaza,” the demonstrators marched through the capital from the Reichstag building, expressing their solidarity with the Palestinian people.

The demonstration was peaceful until late afternoon, without any significant incidents, according to the police report. However, the sad reality is the tragic background to the conflict: Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked, the conflict has claimed over 57,000 lives, the majority on the Palestinian side. Meanwhile, the people of the Gaza Strip suffered from catastrophic conditions, with many areas largely destroyed. Among other things, posters called for an end to arms deliveries to Israel and an immediate stop to attacks in the Gaza Strip.

Freedom of expression and protest culture

The current protests raise questions about freedom of expression. Michael O'Flaherty, Commissioner for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, expressed concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression in a letter to Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and warned that restrictions could endanger democracy. This reports rbb24.

A total of 1,569 meetings related to the Middle East conflict took place in Berlin between October 7, 2023 and June 15, 2025; only 24 were banned. While the Senate Department of the Interior emphasizes that 98.5 percent of the registered demonstrations were carried out, pro-Palestinian protests in particular are often subject to restrictions, such as the ban on Arabic slogans. Criticism of this comes from activists like Nazih Musharbash, who sees these measures as a violation of freedom of expression.

Legal uncertainty and police violence

Another controversial aspect is the legal assessment of the slogan “From the river to the sea”. Various judgments in Germany have produced different assessments of this slogan, such as Amnesty reported. In some cases it was considered protected by freedom of expression, while in other judgments imposed fines. This legal uncertainty contributes to people not exercising their rights due to fear of government measures, the so-called “chilling effect”.

Additionally, there have been reports of excessive police violence against protesters, including minors, since the outbreak of the conflict. Protest researchers confirm that police intervention is often violent, leading to an intense discussion about the Berlin police's actions, but justifying their operations as lawful and in accordance with the Freedom of Assembly Act.

Given these developments, it remains to be seen how the political and social debate about freedom of expression and the handling of pro-Palestinian protests will continue. It is clear that support for peace and human rights plays a central role in the current discussions.