Police say around 3,500 joined Berlin pro-Palestinian march; other European protests reported

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations were reported in several European cities, including Berlin and Amsterdam. Vocemundi has not independently confirmed the details below. Each is attributed to the outlet that reported it.

Berlin

A march organised by the group United for Palestine drew around 3,500 people in Berlin on Saturday, according to police as cited by The Local Germany. The outlet said the protests took place three days after the third anniversary of the 7 October 2023 attack on Israel.

The march set off from a square between the chancellery and parliament. Police deployed 1,400 officers to handle the march and other rallies in the capital, The Local Germany reported. The reports do not describe those other rallies.

According to The Local Germany, many participants denounced Germany's arms exports to Israel. They carried banners and placards condemning Berlin's military support for Israel. The outlet reported that one student, who asked not to be named, told AFP: "I find it really terrible that Germany finds it so difficult to criticise Israel."

Other cities

Hundreds joined a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Amsterdam, according to an Anadolu Agency headline. The Anadolu report does not give a date, organisers or a source for the crowd estimate.

Thousands also marched in similar protests in London and Dublin, according to The Local Germany. The reports give no further figures or organisers for those events.

Background

According to The Local Germany, a ceasefire in Gaza began a year ago. The outlet said Israel has reduced its level of attacks but has kept striking Gaza on a near-daily basis.

The 7 October 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,221 people, the deadliest in Israel's history. That figure comes from an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, cited by The Local Germany. Militants took 251 hostages into Gaza, 44 of whom were already dead, according to the same report.

What each side says

• Berlin police: around 3,500 people joined the United for Palestine march, according to The Local Germany.
• Protesters in Berlin: many condemned Germany's arms exports and military support for Israel, according to The Local Germany.
• Gaza's health ministry: Israeli strikes have killed some 1,450 Palestinians since the ceasefire began. It says Israel's military offensive has killed more than 74,200 people, according to The Local Germany.

The reports do not include any response from the German government or from Israeli officials.

What is not known

The reports do not include an estimate of the Berlin turnout from organisers or from any independent count. They do not describe whether there were arrests, incidents or counter-protests. The Berlin, London and Dublin details come from a single report by The Local Germany, which credits AFP for a student's quote and the 7 October death toll. The Anadolu report covers a separate event and does not corroborate those details.

Analysis

Many protesters in Berlin focused on German policy, specifically arms exports to Israel, according to The Local Germany, rather than on the conflict alone. This suggests domestic policy may remain a focus for demonstrators in Germany. Turnout figures should be read with caution. Only a police estimate is available for Berlin, and the other cities have only rough descriptions. Most details trace back to a single report by The Local Germany. Further reporting could clarify whether these were coordinated events or separate local actions. It could also show whether the German government responds. It remains unclear whether the anniversary and the ongoing strikes reported in Gaza will sustain protest activity across Europe.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.