Berlin Police Clear Pro-Palestinian Camp Outside German Parliament, Activists Demand End to Arms Exports to Israel

Berlin police forcefully dismantled a pro-Palestinian camp erected in front of the German parliament. The camp, named 'Besetzung Gegen Besatzung' (Occupy Against Occupation), had become a focal point for activists demanding an end to German arms exports to Israel and decrying what they perceive as the criminalization of the Palestinian solidarity movement.

The clearing operation commenced on Friday, with law enforcement officers tearing down tents, removing protesters by force, and blocking the surrounding area to prevent further arrivals. This decisive action followed a series of demonstrations and confrontations between activists and authorities on U.S. campuses, as well as a blockade at Paris's Sciences Po university. These events formed part of a broader international outcry against Israel's military operations in Gaza and Western support for the Israeli government.

The Berlin camp, which began on April 8, coincided with the commencement of hearings at the International Court of Justice regarding Nicaragua's case against Germany for providing military aid to Israel. Jara Nassar, one of the organizers of the camp, explained that its purpose was to draw attention to Germany's alleged complicity in enabling what they term as the "Israeli genocide" in Gaza.

While Israel vehemently denies accusations of genocide, the scenes at the Berlin camp were marked by a tense standoff. Nassar and a group of protesters remained seated on the ground, chanting pro-Palestinian slogans and songs, even as police issued orders for them to disperse through loudspeakers.

Among the demonstrators was Udi Raz, a PhD student at Berlin's Free University and a member of the Jewish Voice association. Raz, adorned with a Jewish kippah featuring the colors of the Palestinian flag, symbolically underscored the intersection of Jewish identity and support for the Palestinian cause. He emphasized the solidarity of Jewish activists who had participated in the camp, including organizing a candle-lit Passover dinner earlier in the week.

However, the peaceful protest took a contentious turn as police cited repeated violations, including the use of unconstitutional symbols and slogans, as grounds for prohibiting the camp. Anja Dierschke, a spokesperson for the police, asserted that ensuring public safety and order necessitated the removal of the camp, which had failed to comply with regulations requiring the daily relocation of tents to preserve the lawn.

For Raz and other activists, the forced evacuation of the camp epitomized a prioritization of grass over human lives. They argued that the German government's actions reflected a disregard for the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, where tens of thousands of innocent lives have been lost amidst ongoing conflict with Israeli forces.