Brandenburg Gate Lit in Israeli Flag Colors as Pro-Palestinian Demonstration Dispersed in Berlin

The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was illuminated in the colors of the Israeli flag on Wednesday evening, marking three years since the October 7 massacre. This annual tradition, which began on the day of the attack, serves as a solemn reminder of the tragedy and a symbol of solidarity with Israel. The display coincided with a pro-Palestinian demonstration in the city, which was dispersed by police and resulted in arrests. Among the participants was Greta Thunberg, who joined the protest.

At the main memorial ceremony held in the square where Nazis burned books in 1933, approximately 1,700 people gathered, according to police estimates. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and German Interior Minister Alexander Dürrfeld addressed the crowd, emphasizing the need to stand against anti-Semitism. Prosor stated, “Any anti-Semitic attack is for me another task to continue to take a stand: for the Jews in Germany, for the State of Israel.” The Union of Jewish Students placed 500 empty chairs at tables in front of the Brandenburg Gate, alongside photos of the murdered.

During the demonstration, participants chanted slogans such as “Yalla, yalla, intifada” and “Fuck you, Israel.” The event also featured a banner depicting a bulldozer breaking through a barbed wire fence, a visual metaphor for the October 7 attack. The banner described the massacre as a “lighthouse of steadfastness,” prompting police to open an investigation into potential glorification of violence. Protesters also displayed signs supporting Hamas and a portrait of Iran’s late Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

In a memorial prayer held at the central synagogue of Berlin, Ambassador Prosor reiterated the importance of a “firewall against anti-Semitism,” a term referring to political commitment to avoid alliances with extremist parties. This stance has been directed primarily at the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, but there is now a call to apply similar scrutiny to the left-wing party that recently won in Berlin.

The demonstration in Berlin was part of a broader pattern of pro-Palestinian activism across Europe. A similar march took place in Amsterdam, where participants chanted “Long live the 7th of October,” a reference to the October 7 attack. The event highlighted the growing presence of pro-Palestinian sentiment in European cities, often accompanied by calls for an Intifada and criticism of Israel’s actions. These demonstrations underscore the complex and often polarizing nature of the Israel-Palestine conflict in international public spaces.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Hebrew)