Nakba demonstration in Berlin: escalation – police officer seriously injured

Berlin. A pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin-Kreuzberg resulted in riots and violent scuffles between demonstrators and police. A police officer was dragged into the crowd by aggressive demonstrators, trampled, and seriously injured, police spokesman Florian Nath told the German Press Agency.

The police officer was treated by an emergency doctor, given oxygen and painkillers, and taken to the hospital. Nath also mentioned a defibrillator, a device used to treat heart rhythm disturbances. Other officers were injured. At least one officer was found to have broken bones in his hand. More than 30 protesters were arrested for various offenses, including assault, the spokesperson said.

A police officer has red paint on his visor during a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the 77th day of Nakba.

Source: Christophe Gateau/dpa

That evening, aggressive participants threw soda cans and other objects at police officers at Südstern and splashed them with red paint. Police also reported bottles and a stone being thrown. Helmeted police officers attempted to push back the crowd of demonstrators. Police also deployed a water cannon, but initially did not use it.

Following the riots, calls for a reassessment of such gatherings are growing. "There is a strong radicalization in this milieu and, with it, an increased propensity to violence," said the German-Israeli Society (DIG). A fundamental reassessment of the law governing assembly is necessary for so-called pro-Palestinian demonstrations. "These are often purely anti-Israel events and not demonstrations for the rights and legitimate concerns of the Palestinians," the society stated.

Violence broke out between demonstrators and police at a pro-Palestinian demonstration marking the Nakba commemoration day.

Source: Christophe Gateau/dpa

Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) condemned the violence at the demonstration in a speech in the Bundestag. Unfortunately, the incident was not an isolated incident. The police generally don't need mistrust, but rather good equipment and "political backing," Dobrindt said.

From the perspective of the Berlin FDP, it is necessary to examine whether such demonstrations can be banned in the future. "What we need now is the courage to make a decision and a Senate that protects our police, defends Jewish life, and no longer stands idly by as our city becomes a stage for hatred and violence week after week," said state chairman Christoph Meyer.

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The police union criticized the fact that the police had to fight in court to enforce restrictions on the pro-Palestinian demonstration marking Nakba Day. Just shortly before the demonstration was due to begin, the Berlin-Brandenburg Higher Administrative Court ruled in the final instance on Thursday that the rally could only take place at Südstern and could not continue as a protest march to Neukölln. This successfully defeated a police appeal against a contrary ruling by the Berlin Administrative Court (VG).

"If we still have to argue with the Administrative Court about the merits of such a requirement, something is wrong with the Freedom of Assembly Act. We have brought this to the attention of Berlin's politicians several times," criticized Berlin's GdP state leader Stephan Weh.

Around a thousand people demonstrated in Berlin's Kreuzberg district on the occasion of the Palestinian Nakba commemoration day. Many of them wore so-called Palestinian scarves, Palestinian flags, and other relevant symbols at Südstern in the afternoon.

RND/dpa