Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called for solidarity with Israel and a clear rejection of anti-Semitism tonight from citizens in Germany, as part of a commemoration event for the first anniversary of the Hamas attack against Israel. At the same time, thousands of people took part in demonstrations against Israel, which in some cases escalated into violent confrontations with the police.

As part of the interfaith service held earlier this evening at the evangelical Kaiser Wilhelm Church, known as the “Church of Remembrance” (Gedächtnis-Kirche), Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke about Germany’s responsibility towards Israel, recalling the crimes committed by the Nazis against the Jews. However, referring to the current conflict in the Middle East, the federal president also spoke of “limits to the right of self-defense”. “Never again,” he stressed, means never again allowing inhuman racial hatred, anti-Semitism and ultra-nationalism to spread in Germany.

According to him, Germany is currently at a critical juncture. “From October 7, 2023, we also experience in German schools and universities, in cultural institutions, on the streets and in the media how this war in the Middle East threatens to tear us apart,” he explained and categorically stated that “threatening Jews or demonstrating in favor of a Middle East without the state of Israel is anti-Semitism.” “We are not allowed to accept it and we will never accept it. And it is also Germany’s responsibility to stand by Israel when the Jewish homeland is under attack,” added Mr. Steinmeier, noting however at the same time that “this war has already killed too many people, it has brought a lot of suffering to the Israelis as well and for the Palestinians and now also for the people of Lebanon.”

As a sign of solidarity with Israel, the Brandenburg Gate was illuminated tonight in the colors of the Israeli flag, while the facade of the building of the publishing house “Axel Springer” (BILD, Die Welt) displayed photos of the hostages still held by Hamas, with the hashtag “Bring them back now.”

A few kilometers away, thousands of people demonstrated against Israel, in some cases honoring the Hamas “martyrs” who were killed on October 7, 2023. The main demonstration held between Neukeln and Kreuzberg also saw incidents, when protesters started throwing bottles at police officers, while shouting slogans such as “Israel is a terrorist state”, “All journalists lie” or the forbidden, as it implies the disappearance of Israel, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”. The Swedish activist Greta Thunberg also participated in this gathering, who even wore the traditional Palestinian kafiya. Demonstrations were also held in other German cities today. In Bavaria, Prime Minister Markus Zeder attended a commemoration in a Munich synagogue, where he declared to applause that “Jewish life in Bavaria has the guarantee that an attack on the Jews is an attack on all of us” and criticized Iran for “financing terrorism ».