Hundreds protest in Berlin against Gaza ‘genocide’

By Oliver Towfigh Nia

BERLIN (AA) - Hundreds marched Saturday in Berlin to demand an end to the Israeli "genocide" against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

Demonstrators carried banners expressing anger about Israel’s daily military attacks and demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.

Holding Palestinian flags, groups of protesters, most young, chanted: “Stop the genocide”, “Israel bombs, Germany pays”, “Viva Palestine” and “Free, free Palestine.”

Protesters lambasted German financial and military support for Israel in its war against Palestinians in Gaza.

Germany has supported Israel’s “right to defend” itself after an attack Oct. 7 by Hamas inside Israel.

Pro-Palestinian protests in parts of Germany have been banned in recent weeks as authorities claimed they were antisemitic and schools in Berlin have even been given a green light to ban the traditional Palestinian headdress, the keffiyeh.

Pro-Palestinian activists in Germany said that amounted to a crackdown on Palestinians and a curtailment of free speech.

The Israeli army resumed bombing the Gaza Strip early Friday after ending a week-long humanitarian pause with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas.

At least 178 Palestinians have been killed and 589 injured on Friday in Israeli airstrikes, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The humanitarian pause began Nov. 24 as part of an agreement between Israel and Hamas to temporarily halt fighting to allow hostage swaps and aid delivery.

More than 15,000 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed in Israeli attacks since Oct. 7 following a cross-border attack by Hamas.

Around 1,200 Israelis have also been killed, according to official estimates.