Thousands march in Berlin demanding end to Israel-Hamas war

In Germany, tens of thousands of protesters gathered in Berlin on a recent Saturday to express solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. The demonstration, estimated to involve around 50,000 people according to police, featured slogans such as "free, free Palestine," and called for an immediate resolution to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, which has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The march was monitored by approximately 1,800 law enforcement officials to ensure safety and order during the event. Another rally in favor of Israel saw about 100 people demonstrating, with reports of isolated clashes when both protest groups crossed paths. Additionally, several thousand demonstrators were reported to have protested in Düsseldorf under the banner of freedom for Palestine and all oppressed peoples as part of a broader wave of similar protests seen across Europe in recent weeks. These protests have been sparked by escalating violence following the Hamas-initiated attack on southern Israel that occurred on October 7, 2023. This attack led to the loss of around 1,200 lives, most of which were civilians, and resulted in the abduction of numerous individuals, with 48 hostages thought to remain in Gaza, of whom 20 are believed to still be alive. The retaliatory actions from Israel have reportedly claimed over 65,100 lives in Gaza, as stated by the Health Ministry there, along with widespread destruction and a humanitarian disaster that has led to urgent calls from experts regarding the humanitarian situation. The overwhelming majority of Gaza's population—approximately 90%—have faced displacement due to the ongoing conflict, leading to catastrophic circumstances where experts indicate a significant famine is affecting the region. Despite these developments, Germany has historically aligned itself closely with Israel, largely due to its responsibility stemming from the Holocaust, resulting in a foreign policy focused on ensuring Israel's security and combating anti-Semitism. However, amidst this context, there have been calls for Germany to halt arms exports to Israel and move towards adopting sanctions against the country. This perceived clash in public sentiment has further highlighted the growing divisions within Germany regarding its foreign policy toward Israel and the ongoing conflict.