German police took firm action against protesters participating in a rally marking Nakba Day (catastrophe) of the Palestinians, held in a major city of the country. A short video posted by Al Jazeera shows several protesters being pinned to the ground by security forces, while others chanted slogans and waved Palestinian flags.
Nakba Day, which falls on May 15 each year, marks the event when over 700,000 Palestinians were forced to flee or expelled from their homes during the 1948 war, which coincided with the establishment of the state of Israel. This year, protests in multiple European cities, including Germany, received particular attention against the backdrop of a renewed Israel-Hamas conflict.
According to organizers, the rally in Germany aimed to raise awareness of Palestinian rights and condemn Israeli military actions. However, police stated they intervened due to concerns over the risk of public disorder and incitement to hatred. No detailed reports on injuries or arrests have been released.
The incident unfolds as pro-Palestinian protests in Germany frequently face tight scrutiny from authorities, who view certain slogans and symbols as violations of anti-hate speech laws. Palestinian communities and human rights groups criticize such crackdowns as curtailing freedom of expression.
