Berlin Illuminates Brandenburg Gate for October 7 Anniversary as Protests Erupt
Berlin's Brandenburg Gate was lit with the Israeli flag on the third anniversary of the October 7 massacre, as police dispersed pro-Palestinian protests. Similar demonstrations and arrests occurred in London.
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin was illuminated this evening in the colors of the Israeli flag to mark three years since the October 7 massacre, a tradition maintained every year since the tragedy occurred. Meanwhile, Berlin police dispersed a pro-Palestinian demonstration and arrested several protesters, among whom activist Greta Thunberg was spotted.
Earlier in the day, the central memorial ceremony in the city, held at the square where the Nazis burned books in 1933, drew approximately 1,700 participants according to police estimates. Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor and German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt delivered addresses. Dobrindt stated that every antisemitic attack serves as an ongoing mission to take a stand for Jews in Germany and for the State of Israel. In front of the Brandenburg Gate, the Union of Jewish Students placed 500 empty chairs at tables adorned with photographs of the victims.
Memorial Prayers and Political Stances
During a morning memorial service at the central Chabad synagogue in Berlin, Ambassador Prosor emphasized that the firewall against antisemitism must stand firmly on all sides, from both the right and the left. The term firewall refers to the political commitment not to cooperate with extremist parties, traditionally directed at the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), while recent debates have also targeted the far-left Die Linke party following its recent electoral victories in Berlin.
Simultaneously, a pro-Palestinian demonstration marched this evening from the Kreuzberg district toward Neukölln, an area known for its large immigrant population primarily from Turkey and Arab nations. According to police, around 700 people participated, including Greta Thunberg. Prior to the march, demonstrators chanted slogans calling for an intifada revolution and accusing Israel of harming children. Police intervened, arresting participants for displaying Hamas symbols and assaulting officers, ultimately declaring the protest dispersed around 10:00 PM before it reached its final destination.
International Protests in London
In London, British police arrested 11 individuals during demonstrations marking the anniversary of the attacks. Five people were detained in the morning on suspicion of inciting racial hatred after chanting in favor of an intifada outside the offices of the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Six additional arrests occurred during pro-Palestinian student marches and counter-protests.
In the evening, a memorial rally took place near Downing Street with the participation of Communities Secretary Angela Rayner. Board President Phil Rosenberg stated during the rally that the situation is not solely a Jewish problem, but a British one. Keith Black, chair of the Jewish Leadership Council, addressed a recent decision by the Green Party equating Zionism with racism, declaring that British Jewry is a proudly Zionist community standing firmly with Israel.
