"Let's turn Berlin into Gaza": Unauthorized protest leaves dozens officers injured

Despite a ban on pro-Palestinian rallies in order to avoid public unrest and confrontations, over 60 police officers were injured when trying to disperse a protest of several hundred people in Berlin on the evening of October 18.

The Tagesspiegel reported, that the officers were injured by projectiles, flaming substances, and acts of defiance, with some attendees using pyrotechnics and setting fire to barricades. There is no information available regarding injuries among the demonstrators. After the rally, 174 people were arrested, and 65 of them are currently under criminal investigation.

According to the publication, there were multiple calls to continue protests in support of Palestine made on social media platforms which included violent language, such as "let's turn [Berlin district of] Neukölln into Gaza" and "set everything on fire". 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on the authorities on October 19 to prevent demonstrations that have the potential to evolve into anti-Semitic gatherings. "Antisemitism is out of place in Germany, and we will do everything we can to stand against it", said Scholz , adding, that "we will do that as citizens and as those who bear political responsibility".

His statement comes in light of violent acts against Jewish institutions already happening across Germany. Two Molotov cocktails were thrown at a Jewish community center in Berlin on October 18, while authorities reported that David stars have been discovered to have been drawn onto houses where residents of Jewish faith are living.