A pro-Palestinian demonstration near the German Chancellery on Monday night ended with 188 arrests after protesters chanted slogans glorifying Hamas leaders and rejecting the existence of Israel.
According to Berlin police, around 150 demonstrators marched from a protest camp on Heinrich von Gagern Straße towards John Foster Dulles Allee, just minutes from the Federal Chancellor’s Office. Officers reported hearing banned chants and dissolved the rally after failing to identify an official organizer.
Of the people detained and later released after identification, 183 now face charges for using symbols of terrorist organizations, resisting or assaulting officers, and disturbing the public order. Police said irritant gas was deployed when some participants tried to flee or resist checks. Five officers were injured.
Videos posted on social media showed demonstrators shouting “Sinwar, Sinwar” in reference to Yahya Sinwar, the late Hamas leader held responsible for the October 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. Other chants included “Israel will never be,” widely interpreted as a call for the Jewish state’s eradication.
The public use of Hamas symbols or slogans is prohibited under §86a of the German Penal Code, which bans the display of unconstitutional or terrorist insignia except in academic or artistic contexts. Hamas is listed as a terrorist organization in Germany, making chants such as “From the river to the sea” illegal in public.
In November 2023, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser formally outlawed Hamas activities in Germany and banned the pro-Palestinian group Samidoun for glorifying terror attacks and promoting antisemitism. Since then, authorities have tightened restrictions on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, with certain slogans and even symbols like the keffiyeh—the traditional Middle Eastern headscarf typically associated with Palestinian identity—banned in schools as potential incitement.
The measures have sparked criticism from civil rights advocates and legal experts, who warn that using Staatsräson (“reason of state”) to justify deportations of foreign activists or limit protests risks undermining democratic freedoms.
Elsewhere in Europe, governments have also moved to restrict pro-Palestinian rallies, reflecting concerns about radicalization and the balance between civil liberties and public security.
German officials say the tougher stance is driven by fears that Middle East tensions are fueling antisemitism at home. Since October 7, 2023, Berlin has recorded a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents—from graffiti and assaults to chants at demonstrations.
The protest near the Chancellery is seen as part of a broader trend. Authorities defend their actions as necessary for security and combating antisemitism, while critics warn of an erosion of fundamental freedoms if measures are not carefully balanced.
