Numerous anti-Semitic incidents continue to occur in Germany following the major Hamas attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip. In the capital Berlin, according to police reports on Monday, there was again “various damage to property throughout the city in the form of painted Stars of David as well as anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian lettering.” According to witness statements, guests at a Jewish restaurant there were also intimidated, it was said.
In the incident on Sunday evening, suspected participants in a banned pro-Palestinian demonstration in the Kreuzberg district that had previously been broken up by the police allegedly kicked and spit on the window of the restaurant. As the police further reported, citing witnesses, the unknown suspects were also said to have “imitated a machine gun using hand gestures and aimed at the restaurant.” They fled before the police arrived.
Elsewhere, according to police reports on Monday, Israeli flags hoisted in solidarity in front of town halls and other buildings were again stolen or damaged – for example in Münster, Aachen and Moers in North Rhine-Westphalia. In Münster, the perpetrators lifted a flagpole from its anchorage.
In Schwerin in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, investigators identified a 17-year-old following a witness tip-off following such a flag theft last week. The police in Rostock said the teenager, who came from Iraq, was identified by emergency services in downtown Schwerin on Saturday. The investigation against the accused was ongoing.
Pro-Palestinian gatherings have been banned across the country several times in recent days. The responsible authorities justified this with the expectation of inciting, anti-Semitic statements and the risk of glorification of violence and calls for violence. Immediately after the Hamas attack on October 7th, there were celebrations in Berlin-Neukölln.
In Berlin, the police broke up a pro-Palestinian demonstration with around a thousand participants on Potsdamer Platz on Sunday. As officials announced on Monday, the area was cleared after unsuccessful loudspeaker announcements. Bottles and pyrotechnics were occasionally thrown, and there were also physical attacks. According to their own information, the police initiated 76 criminal and 68 administrative offense proceedings. A total of 24 emergency services were injured.
Anti-Semitic incidents also increased in other countries. Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Friday: “There has been a pretty disgusting increase in anti-Semitic incidents in recent days.” The government does not tolerate calls for hatred, violence or racist acts, emphasized the head of government.
There were over 100 anti-Semitic incidents in France last week. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin told the France Inter broadcaster in Paris on Thursday that 24 people had been arrested and had to appear before the judiciary. Three of them will have their residence permits for France revoked. The incidents mainly involved paint graffiti, calls to fight against Israel and insults. Several people were also arrested with stabbing weapons at the entrance to schools or synagogues.
