Aggressive anti-Israel demo in Berlin: Police intervene and dissolves!

Aggressive anti-Israel demo in Berlin: Police intervene and dissolves!

On Thursday afternoon, July 24, 2025, an unvalved anti-Israel demonstration in Berlin-Mitte was violently dissolved. Around 300 people, including women and children, gathered at the Checkpoint Charlie around 5 p.m. to protest against the politics of Israel and the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The mood among the participants was aggressive and numerous anti -Israeli slogans were chanted. Demonstrators made noise with cooking pots and showed posters as well as Palestinian flags and towels, which the action designed particularly lively. As reported [Image] (https://www.bild.de/regional/berlin/beamte-von-israel-hassern- Hähr-zoli-zent-demo-in-berin-68279c1ef6365168b9556), color bags, eggs and police vehicles were also thrown.

The police described the meeting as "spontaneous" and made the decision at 5.40 p.m. to dissolve the demonstration. However, more than 200 people refused to vacate the space. After the necessary announcement, there was a seat block from demonstrators who tried to defend themselves against the actions of the police. This led to more than 20 arrests; Nine police officers were slightly injured, but were able to continue their service. The police finally had to act against some demonstrators who contradicted the measures. According to [TAG24] (https://www.tag24.de/thema/demonstration/wehrte-polizen-aggro- israel-demo-aufgeloest- 3406523), it was also spoken of the Standfriedensbruch.

political reactions and concerns

The procedure of the authorities in pro-Palestinian protests has not remained without controversy. Michael O’Flahery, Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, expressed concerns about freedom of expression in a letter to Federal Minister of the Interior Alexander Dobrindt (CSU). In his corresponding statement, he emphasizes that such measures could harm democracy. The Council of Europe, founded to promote democracy and human rights in Europe, observes the situation carefully and criticizes that the Berlin Senate Administration rejects allegations of the restriction of these freedoms. This corresponds to the reports of Jannis Grimm, a protest researcher at the Free University of Berlin, who reports on a worrying dealings with the freedom of assembly in the city Rbb24 summarizes.

Grimm and his team have collected extensive data on solidarity protests for Palestine in various German cities and can empirically demonstrate many allegations of restrictions on freedom of expression. He and his colleagues have also observed that the intervention of the police in such cases often turns out to be very powerful, which O’Flaherty also does not go unmentioned in his letter. This flows into the broad discussion about the balance between public protest and the maintenance of order in the Berlin streets.

The events at the Checkpoint Charlie also make a highlight of the fluctuating handling of freedom of expression and the right to assemble in Berlin and illustrate the emotional and political tensions that are still in the room. The authorities are now under observation of how they will deal with similar protests in the future.