Berlin police ban pro-Palestinian rally ahead of opposing war protests

The police in Berlin have banned a pro-Palestinian demonstration against the Gaza war announced for Friday evening on the Alexanderplatz square in the east of the German capital, reported dpa.

The ban was imposed after "assessing all the circumstances and findings and weighing up all the interests," a police press release said before a weekend of planned pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli demonstrations.

Friday's event risked leading to inciting, anti-Semitic shouts, glorification of violence, intimidation and violence, the police added in the statement. The organization of any substitute event was also banned until November 6.

The "Generation Palestine" group had registered the rally with 500 participants for 6.30 pm (1630 GMT) under the banner "Berlin children for Gaza children."

Several rallies connected to the conflict are planned in the city at the weekend, with 500 participants expected at a "Peace in the Middle East" gathering on Saturday at 2 pm at the central Brandenburg Gate.

On Sunday, a demonstration of solidarity with victims in the Palestinian territories is planned to take place in the city's Kreuzberg district at 2 pm. According to the police, 800 participants are registered for the rally.

At the Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, close to Alexanderplatz, solidarity with Israel will be expressed from 3 pm on Sunday, with 100 participants already registered.

Berlin police chief Barbara Slowik expects renewed tensions in the capital at the start of Israel's planned ground offensive in Gaza. The military action is a response to the Hamas attacks launched from Gaza on October 7, killing hundreds of Israeli civilians in the first hours.