Ongoing Disputes in the Middle Eastern Region - Law enforcement addresses rally in support of Palestine in Neukölln
Saturday afternoon's pro-Palestine rally in Berlin's central area generally went smoothly, but there was a police intervention in Neukölln later on. Initially, the gathering at the Rotes Rathaus with around 400 attendees was relatively dull, as stated by a police representative. However, the protesters were halted twice due to prohibited anti-Israel slogans. Approximately 30 young individuals were reported to have shouted hateful remarks beneath a banner. One individual was taken into custody.
At night, police in Neukölln around Sonnenallee stepped in to prevent further assembly of protesters who had convened there following the demonstration's conclusion. Fireworks were lighting up the sky multiple times, leading the police to push back the crowd and make some arrests for non-compliance. The situation eventually settled around 10:00 PM.
The previous Friday evening witnessed a similar event organized by Palestinian groups in Kreuzberg with around 400 participants. Regrettably, four police officers ended up injured, as per police reports. The demonstrators hurled stones and bottles at the officers. The authorities briefly detained 17 individuals for their identities, and filed 21 criminal charges against them.
The rally demanded a truce in the Middle East. Orators and musicians graced a stage as well. In accordance with police data, some speakers and a musician stirred up hatred. Fireworks were set off sporadically throughout the event.
The following is added to the account of the protests: Authorities in Neukölln announced that they would be imposing stricter measures at future pro-Palestine rallies due to the inflammatory slogans and behavior observed during the previous events. The following is added as well: The city council in Berlin urged for increased dialogue and understanding, emphasizing the importance of peaceful protests and respect for all parties involved.
