Anti-Israel chants at demonstrations to celebrate the 7th anniversary of October in Berlin

Hundreds of people in Berlin staged rallies and demonstrations on Saturday ahead of the first anniversary of Israel’s attack on October 7.

About 500 police officers were on duty, the police said on social media platform X. Police are preparing for a major operation throughout the weekend, as more rallies have been announced for Sunday.

The number of participants was relatively low in the beginning.

Exhibitions are also organized in other parts of Germany. In Hamburg, hundreds of protesters gathered and began a peaceful protest against the war on Gaza.

According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, the domestic intelligence agency, the protests are likely to be the capital.

Pro-Palestinian protest at Tempelhof

Hundreds of people gathered in Berlin near the former Tempelhof airport on Saturday in a pro-Palestinian protest titled “One year of genocide – and the world looks on. Against police violence.”

When the rally began, the police estimated the number of participants to be around 500. After the march began, they spoke of more than a thousand.

A police spokesperson said that many people are still participating in the march. The protesters planned to march from the Tempelhof through the Kreuzberg district to the Brandenburg Gate.

Many of the participants raised Palestinian flags and signs that read “Free Palestine.” A large blood red banner reads “Stop Israel Blood Genocide.”

Many protesters held up pictures of police officers during the campaigns, condemning police brutality.

The speeches condemned the delivery of German weapons to Israel. The tone was sometimes aggressive. The atmosphere among the protesters was tense. According to the police, the participants were chanting illegal slogans many times.

Pro-Israel rally in Berlin’s Mitte district

A large crowd gathered in front of Humboldt University in central Berlin for a pro-Israel rally in the city’s Mitte district.

The police estimated that approximately 650 people participated. Some of them waved Israeli flags, others held a large banner denouncing anti-Semitism worldwide, which is the theme of the meeting. Members of the radical left-wing Antifa movement also participated.

The protest ended in the afternoon without major disruptions, according to the police.

However, it is said that approximately 20 people tried to enter this protest march. The police even intervened, according to the spokesperson. A scuffle broke out. It is still being investigated whether these people were coming from the Palestinian camp, said the spokesperson.

Ten arrested after anti-Israel chants in Alexanderplatz

Late Friday, police intervened in Palestinian demonstrations in central Berlin at Alexanderplatz due to anti-Israel chants and actions, leading to the temporary arrest of 10 on Friday evening, according to police reports.

Another incident involved a man tearing up Israeli flag papers during a “Vigil for Gaza” rally.

At one rally titled “Stop the War,” which had a peak attendance of about 100 participants, police reported chanting of anti-Israeli or derogatory slogans. The leaders of the rally were urged to judge the candidates.

About 60 people participated in the vigil, according to the police, and there are about 400 police officers at the scene.

The investigation into the alleged insults and the alleged use of the identifiers of unconstitutional and terrorist organizations is ongoing.

On top of that, a 40-year-old mother of an 11-year-old child is being investigated for allegedly breaching the duty of caring for and raising children.

This is because, according to the police, the speeches were made deliberately by minors at the Stop the War rallies, who have not been held accountable under the criminal law.

A lot of police

Organized demonstrations resulted in a massive police operation to maintain peace. The police union said it expected a “city-wide, dynamic situation” in the capital.

Separately, the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution warned of an increase in anti-Israel and anti-Semitic protests.

BFV President Thomas Haldenwang said the current situation has a great potential for “emotional growth, nationalism and radicalization” among the actors involved.

Faeser calls for a serious crackdown on anti-Semitism

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser announced a strong police response to any anti-Semitic incidents during rallies and demonstrations.

As the situation is tense due to ongoing violence in the Middle East, Faeser, in an interview published by the Tagesspiegel newspaper, emphasized the need for a place of mourning while guaranteeing peaceful protests, which he described as important for democracy.

However, he warned that any expression of hatred towards Jews, calls for the destruction of Israel, Islamist propaganda, or attacks on emergency services will be met with immediate police intervention.

Faeser reiterated his full support for legal action to maintain public safety during these events.

Meanwhile, Iris Spranger, who is responsible for security in the Berlin city district administration, told dpa on Saturday that her position is clear: “Hatred, blasphemy and anti-Semitism do not belong on the streets of Berlin.”

“We will do everything we can to ensure that the protests on October 7 can be held peacefully and safely,” he added.