Germany defends ban on anti-Israel demonstrations

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - The German government defended a ban on anti-Israel demonstrations Wednesday amid mounting public criticism from the German-Palestinian community.

Anyone in Germany is allowed to express their opinions freely and demonstrate peacefully, Deputy Interior Minister Rita Schwarzeluhr-Sutter said in an address to parliament.

“But it has a very thick red line: There is zero tolerance for anti-Semitic and anti-Israel incitement. There is zero tolerance for violence,” she said.

Schwarzeluhr-Sutter noted that the rule of law enforces the line with bans on gatherings when there is a threat of anti-Semitic agitation.

If necessary, there will also be “tough police intervention,” she said.

After a spontaneous celebration broke out among Palestinians in the Neukolln district of Berlin in the immediate aftermath of an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, authorities banned gatherings out of fear of further expressions of extremist sentiment.

Palestinian activist groups have vowed to protest the ban.

The ban by police violates constitutional rights, the Palestine Campaign Initiative group wrote on its website.

“We will take legal action to enforce our rights in the future,” it said.

Police and courts have reacted differently to a series of protests and demonstrations showing solidarity with Palestinians, with some outlawed and others allowed to proceed.

On Oct. 12, Germany banned the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun, which had been organizing pro-Palestinian protests in Berlin after Hamas initiated its surprise attack on Israel.

The multi-pronged Operation Al-Aqsa Flood attack included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air which Hamas said was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

Gaza is experiencing a dire humanitarian crisis with no electricity, while water, food, fuel and medical supplies are running out.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an “immediate humanitarian cease-fire” to ease the “epic human suffering.”

At least 3,478 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while the Israeli death toll is at more than 1,400.