The Brandenburg Gate was illuminated this evening (Monday) in the colors of the Israeli flag, and the symbol calling for the release of the hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip was projected onto the historical monument, exactly one year after the terrorist attack of October 7, 2023.
In a ceremony that took place there, Mayor Kai Wagner announced that the Israeli flag will continue to be flown on the Berlin City Hall “until all the abductees are released.” Last week, he was asked by journalists how long he would continue to display the flag. Hundreds of people, according to the reports in the Berlin media this evening, were present at the event, which was conducted under heavy police security.
Israel’s ambassador to Germany, Ron Proshaur, thanked Mayor Wagner for his support for Israel and said that “Berlin has been by our side since day one. In support and solidarity and no less in the fight against hatred and anti-Semitism. We will not rest until we return everyone home.” Before this event, an inter-religious dialogue was held in the city, in which Bishop Christian Stablain, Rabbi Andreas Nechama and Imam Kadir Sanji called for religious tolerance and the immediate release of the abductees. The President of Germany, Frank Walter Steinmeier, attended the ceremony.
Back in Germany, the authorities placed the yellow Israeli abductee symbol in the center of a large sign in the German Foreign Ministry, as well as on one of the walls of the Bundestag, while the Chancellor, Olaf Schulz, expressed his condolences to the Israeli people and said that “we mourn you.” Before that, the March of Life organization, founded by descendants of Nazis who strive to atone for the actions of their ancestors and support Israel, initiated the reading of the names of those murdered in the terrorist attacks of October 7, in the square below the Brandenburg Gate and in other places around the world.
The Brandenburg Gate in Germany, on which the symbol of the Israeli hostages was projected, this evening (Mon) / Photo: Israeli Embassy in Germany
Support and memorial rallies also in Paris and London
In Paris, a rally with the participation of thousands of people was held over the weekend, which was intended to pay respect to the victims of the massacre on September 7, dozens of whom also had French passports. The main memorial event in Paris included performances by musicians and artists, and called for the immediate release of the abductees still held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Also in London, thousands gathered at the weekend for a similar memorial event. According to the reports, those present chanted “Bring them Home” and waved many Israeli flags. The event was organized by the Jewish community of Great Britain. Two memorial events in Leeds and Manchester were also held yesterday (Sunday).
European leaders issued messages of solidarity with the Jews and the State of Israel. In Denmark, Prime Minister Made Frederiksen wrote in a detailed message that her thoughts, and the thoughts of the Danish government, are for the people of Israel. “Denmark stands by the commitment that ‘never again’,” wrote the Danish Prime Minister. According to reports in the country, she even came to a memorial event for the Jewish community, as she did in the past even after the October 7 attacks.
The political displays of support, the memorial rallies and the solidarity demonstrations – mainly in Germany – were made against the background of mass demonstrations in recent days, in which thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators took to the streets in protest against Israel. Large demonstrations took place in Rome, Berlin, London and other cities.
Also tonight, there was a violent demonstration in Berlin, in which the protestors shouted “Come on Intifada”, called Israel a “child killer” and more. The police in Berlin, who previously promised, under Wagner’s direction, “zero tolerance” for violence on the part of the demonstrators, dispersed the demonstration in the early hours. Police in Berlin have been deployed with an increased force of nearly 3,000 officers, including forces brought in from neighboring states, to secure the October 7 events in the German capital.
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