Around 20,000 demonstrate in Berlin: Stop the genocide in Gaza!

Around 20,000 demonstrate in Berlin: Stop the genocide in Gaza!

On Saturday, September 13, 2025, around 15,000 people gathered at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin to demonstrate against Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. The participants, led by BSW politician Sahra Wagenknecht and prominent supporters such as the actor Dieter Hallervorden and the rapper Massiv, campaigned under the motto “Stop the genocide in Gaza”. The demonstration, which was planned to last until around 6 p.m., was intended to send a clear signal against the ongoing acts of violence and the supply of weapons to war zones. This movement is a response to the ongoing conflict, particularly after the devastating Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed over 1,200 people. According to rbb24, the organizers believed that up to 20,000 participants followed the event digitally, while the police only assumed around 12,000 people were present.

At the beginning of the event, the police reported that the Straße des 17. Juni had been closed to traffic since 9 a.m. to ensure the safety of the demonstrators. Interior Minister Andreas Geisel emphasized in a statement that the police were deployed with around 1,000 people and that a counter-demonstration with around 100 pro-Israel demonstrators was also organized. Despite these constellations, the event went largely smoothly. However, an incident involving a poster that resulted in a “measure restricting freedom” caused brief unrest.

Prominent voices and demanding posters

The sparse protest, which also occurred under the banner of the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) movement, was commented on by various critics and supporters. Roger Waters, known as co-founder of the band Pink Floyd, addressed the demonstrators via video message and described Zionism as an “unspeakable crime”. In his speech, Dieter Hallervorden called for “peaceful disobedience” and recited a poem entitled “Gaza Gaza”. Also on stage were supporters such as the musician Bausa and the presenter Daniel Aminati, who also qualified Israel's actions as genocide.

The calls for peace were clearly felt. Participants not only called for an end to violence in the Middle East, but also for diplomatic solutions to the Ukraine conflict. Sociologist Moshe Zuckermann from Tel Aviv put forward provocative theses by declaring that all Israelis are complicit in current events. It was also striking that there were hardly any Palestinian symbols among the demonstrators, echoing the protest of similar mobilizations such as that against the war in Ukraine.

The reactions and the police presence

The accusation of “genocide” against Israel is now being discussed internationally and vehemently rejected by the Israeli government, which points to the fight against Hamas. Insets of signs and slogans were put up by the organizers collecting donations for the World in Peace initiative. Despite the omnipresent security forces, there was a relaxed atmosphere as participants expressed their displeasure with the ongoing war. Police spokesmen announced that consistent action would be taken against any crimes during the meeting.

All in all, the police acted in an exemplary manner and ensured the safety of everyone present, while looking back at the events on Saturday, the core demands for peace and diplomatic solutions were clearly heard from the ranks of the demonstrators. The possibility remains that such gatherings could form an important part of the dialogue on the Middle East in the future.