Demonstrations: Thousands at a peace demonstration with Wagenknecht in Berlin

Posters with peace doves and slogans against German arms deliveries: Thousands of people followed a demonstration call for peace in Ukraine in Berlin on Saturday. A permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was also called for at the Brandenburg Gate. The best-known speaker was the former left-wing politician Sahra Wagenknecht, who sharply criticized the traffic light coalition and accused the Israeli government of reckless warfare.

According to police reports, around 10,000 people came to the demonstration in the cold and drizzle, as many as registered. The organizers spoke of more than 20,000. The protest went smoothly overall, a police spokeswoman said.

Wagenknecht as the most famous speaker

Wagenknecht, who is currently founding her own party, said: “We Germans in particular have a special responsibility for Jewish life. And we have the responsibility to defend Israel’s right to exist without ifs and buts.” But this responsibility “does not oblige us to whitewash and support the Netanyahu government’s reckless warfare as self-defense.”

It is absurd to believe that bombs weaken Islamist terror – they strengthen it. The 54-year-old had previously emphasized: “On October 7th, we were all horrified and shocked by the terrible massacres of the Islamist Hamas, by the murders of innocent civilians, women and children.” No injustice justifies such crimes.

Wagenknecht also criticized Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD)’s statement that Germany must become “war-ready” in view of the threat following the Russian attack on Ukraine.

The call for a demonstration with the motto “No to wars – stop armament madness – shape the future peacefully and justly” was supported by left-wing politicians, trade unionists and some artists. In February, Wagenknecht spoke with women’s rights activist Alice Schwarzer about the war in Ukraine at the Brandenburg Gate.