More than 2,000 people attend pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin

Berlin (dpa) – As the conflict between Israel and Gaza enters its ninth day, people in Berlin are staging demonstrations and rallies in support of both sides.

More than 2,000 people turned out at a rally in Berlin on Wednesday under the banner “Against Israeli aggression in Palestine,” a police spokesperson said.

Many people waved Palestinian flags. The demonstration was peaceful, according to initial reports.

It was called off before the procession had reached the city’s Brandenburg Gate, although the police spokesperson was initially unable to explain the reasons it ended sooner than planned.

The rally was staged after tensions in the Middle East escalated nine days ago.

Israel and militants in the Gaza Stip are exchanging airstrikes and rocket attacks after violent clashes over access to the Jerusalem holy site known as the Temple Mount to Jews and the Noble Sanctuary to Muslims.

Palestinians were also angered by forced evictions in the East Jerusalem neighbourhood Sheikh Jarrah.

Meanwhile a group calling for solidarity in Israel is organizing a rally, also due to be at the Brandenburg Gate, for Thursday.

Vice Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Justice Minister Christine Lambrecht and CDU secretary general Paul Ziemiak are among those planning to attend, as are the leader of the Left Party parliamentary group, Dietmar Bartsch, and Green Party lawmaker Cem Ozdemir.

Lambrecht also called for tougher measures against anti-Semitism.

“We must make it clear to all those who spread this inhuman, dangerous and criminal agitation that we do not accept this and that they are in the absolute minority in this country,” she told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland media group.

Her comments came as police investigate incidents of anti-Semitism throughout Germany from the past weekend, including vandalism of synagogues, as well as clashes with police during demonstrations.