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More than 100,000 demonstrators gathered in Berlin on Saturday to oppose Germany's military cooperation with Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, marking one of the largest pro-Palestinian rallies in the German capital since the war began.
The massive demonstration, organized under the banner "All eyes on Gaza-Stop the genocide," saw protesters march from Berlin's City Hall to the Grosser Stern monument. A coalition of approximately 50 organizations coordinated the event, including pro-Palestinian groups, humanitarian organization Medico International, human rights group Amnesty International, and Germany's opposition Left Party.
Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and held signs reading "Stop the genocide in Gaza," "Never again for all," and "Freedom for Palestine" while chanting "Free, free Palestine" and "Viva Palestine." The crowd demanded an immediate end to German arms exports to Israel and called for European Union sanctions against the country.
"The Israeli government's actions have long been described as genocide by experts and international organizations, and the International Court of Justice is investigating them as such," organizers said in a statement. "While everyone can see how the Israeli military is committing mass atrocities in Gaza, the German government denies the systematic violence."
The protesters specifically demanded an end to "all military cooperation with Israel," including "the import, export, and transit of weapons, ammunition, and other military equipment." They also called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and comprehensive EU sanctions against Israel.
Left Party chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner addressed the rally, criticizing the German government's response to the Gaza conflict. "Chancellor [Friedrich Merz] and ministers talk, but they don't act. They talk of 'reasons of state,' while hospitals are reduced to rubble. They remain silent about the genocide—and are complicit," she told the crowd.
The demonstration comes as public opinion in Germany appears to be shifting on the Gaza conflict. A YouGov survey released Tuesday found that 62% of German voters believe Israeli actions in Gaza constitute genocide, creating mounting pressure on the center-right government to reconsider its position toward Israel.
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The poll revealed that opposition to Israel's military campaign crosses traditional political boundaries. Among voters from Chancellor Merz's conservative CDU/CSU bloc, 60% characterized Israel's operations as genocide, while 71% of Social Democratic Party voters—members of the governing coalition—held the same view.
Germany has historically maintained strong ties with Israel, rooted in the country's responsibility for the Holocaust. The nation remains one of Israel's largest arms suppliers, though recent polling suggests growing domestic opposition to this relationship.
While Chancellor Merz and Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul have recently intensified their criticism of Israel's military operations and restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, both officials have avoided using the term "genocide," instead describing Israel's actions as "disproportionate" use of force.
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