German police forcibly disperse pro-Palestinian march, arresting protesters

BERLIN, May 17 (YPA) – German police used pepper spray extensively and arrested several demonstrators during a violent intervention to prevent a solidarity march with the Palestinian people on Sunday.

The march was held in Berlin to mark the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, starting from Oranien Square in the Kreuzberg district towards the Neukölln district, amid a large turnout carrying Palestinian flags.

Police halted the procession at the “Prinzenstraße” subway station and moved violently to disperse the crowd using pepper spray, causing multiple cases of suffocation among protesters.

Following the forceful arrest of several participants, police later allowed the demonstration to resume, which eventually concluded at the “Südstern” station.

Demonstrators raised symbolic keys representing the “Right of Return” for Palestinian refugees, and chanted slogans condemning Germany’s backing of the occupation, including: “Israel kills children and Germany supports it” and “Resistance is the solution.”

A pro-Israeli occupation group attempted to provoke marchers by waving Israeli flags along the rally’s route, though these attempts failed to halt the protest’s momentum.

YPA