At a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Berlin’s multicultural Kreuzberg district on Monday, climate activist Greta Thunberg accused the left-liberal German government of being complicit in what she alleged was Israeli genocide perpetrated against Palestinians.
“The German state is complicit in this genocide. It finances and legitimizes Israel’s apartheid state, occupation, and genocide. It’s absolutely… I cannot even find the words to tell how upset it makes me to see how Germany and the German police are treating peaceful protesters who are saying no to genocide. It is beyond me. I literally don’t have words,” the Swedish activist said.
The demonstration occurred on Oct. 7, which marks one year since Hamas invaded Israel and killed hundreds of Israeli civilians and soldiers in widespread surprise attacks. In retaliation, Israel has leveled almost all of Gaza and according to Gaza’s health ministry, over 40,000 civilians have been killed, mostly made up of women and children. Israel insists that it is targeting Hamas operatives.
Thunberg has been highly active in criticizing Israel and the German government’s support for Israel, which includes weapon shipments.
At the demonstration in Kreuzberg, activists chanted “Viva, viva Palestine,” and waved Palestinian flags. A man with a megaphone also chanted “Israel is a terror state,” and “Stop the mass murder.”
At another demonstration in nearby Neukölln, four people were provisionally arrested for inciting civil unrest. A group of 50 people built barricades and set fires to tires in the area, and emergency services were pelted with stones and other projectiles, according to a police spokesperson.
According to German newspaper Welt, “the police were initially unable to say whether the riots were connected to the pro-Palestinian demonstration earlier.”
Thunberg was once a liberal and progressive darling, but splits over the humanitarian disaster in Gaza have led to sharp divisions. The Swedish activist, however, has not only accused the German government of supporting genocide, but has also accused the Green Party, which is in the coalition government, of failing to fight climate change.
Much of Germany’s conservative media sharply criticized Thunberg’s participation in the demonstrations, with Bild labeling it a “Jew hatred” demonstration.
