Berlin Gaza solidarity march draws 50,000, calls halt to arms exports

Tens of thousands of people marched through central Berlin on Saturday in a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, demanding an end to the nearly two‑year conflict, an immediate halt to German arms exports to Israel and European Union sanctions. Police estimated about 50,000 participants and said some 1,800 officers were deployed to monitor the demonstrations. Organizers put attendance at a higher number and said the rally was called by a coalition of roughly 50 groups, including human rights organizations and the opposition Left party.

Protesters chanted slogans such as "Free, free Palestine" and carried placards calling for unfettered humanitarian access to Gaza. One of the Left party leaders, Ines Schwerdtner, told the crowd that "the chancellor and ministers talk, but they do not act," criticizing what she described as insufficient German response to the scale of suffering in the enclave. Demonstrators began marching from central squares and converged on the Victory Column in the Tiergarten area, according to organizers.

A separate gathering of about 100 people rallied in support of Israel and against antisemitism. German broadcasters reported isolated scuffles when...