Berlin in turmoil: Thousands demand an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip!

Berlin in turmoil: Thousands demand an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip!

On June 22, 2025, thousands of people took to the streets in Berlin to protest against Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. The demonstration with the motto “United 4 Gaza” began in front of the Reichstag and moved through the government district towards Potsdamer Platz. According to the police there were at least 12,000 participants, while the organizers reported over 40,000 people. In a good mood, but also with serious demands, the demonstrators called for an end to arms deliveries to Israel and compliance with international law. The lack of humanitarian aid was also discussed and some people wearing a keffiyeh or Palestinian flag put up posters urgently calling for a stop to German support, which they described as genocide and apartheid. Deutschlandfunk reported on the events while the Berlin police were present with over 1,300 emergency services and also observed the demonstration from the air.

The situation escalated over the course of the afternoon when there were attacks on the police. By the evening, more than 50 arrests had been reported, including in some cases for propaganda offenses and physical attacks on emergency services. At certain moments, police have been forced to use force to make arrests and protect their own officers. The injured condition of some demonstrators has also not gone unmentioned. However, there were initially no independent reports about the exact circumstances of the incidents.

International protests

There were protests not only in Berlin. Tens of thousands also gathered in London to demonstrate against the events in Gaza and the Israeli attacks, which were also directed against Iran. According to police, the protests were peaceful. In the Swiss capital Bern, around 20,000 people also gathered in front of parliament and demanded an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip Time reported.

The background to all of these protests is as alarming as it is worrying: The conflict in the Gaza Strip arose almost two years ago, when Hamas carried out a major attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Israel's subsequent military operations led to a catastrophic humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Aid deliveries are currently severely limited and local organizations are fighting for the survival of the civilian population. Israeli forces and supporting militias have repeatedly fired on Palestinian civilians, causing tens of thousands to flee in response to Israeli government evacuation orders. Human rights organizations speak of ethnic cleansing and accuse Israel of using hunger as a weapon of war. The accusation of genocide is currently being examined by the International Court of Justice in The Hague Mirror reported.