Activists swap German flag for Palestinian banner at Reichstag
Three people were arrested after climbing a 28-meter mast in Berlin, a move a local group linked to its history of high-profile protests.
By Adrian Kovalenko ·
A man climbed a 28-meter flagpole outside the German parliament in Berlin on Sunday and replaced the national banner with a Palestinian flag. The symbol of Germany's 1990 reunification was removed and the new flag was hoisted in its place. Authorities removed the Palestinian flag roughly one hour later. The incident marks the latest in a series of demonstrations at major European landmarks.
German media outlet Bild reported that the man and two accomplices were arrested. Police stated that all three suspects are facing charges for insulting state symbols. Two of the individuals were filming the climb from the ground as the third ascended the mast. The group behind the action is Peacefully Against Genocide, a German organization that identifies as anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian.
The group claimed responsibility on Instagram, citing the German government's support for Israel. In a post, the group wrote, "Today we raised the Palestinian flag in front of the German Bundestag." They argued that governments remain silent or condone what they call genocide in Palestine. The organization stated it would continue to make the issue visible through resistance.
This group was also responsible for a similar incident a year ago at the Brandenburg Gate. Activists used a cherry picker to scale the monument and display a banner reading, "Never again genocide. Freedom for Palestine." Police deployed 75 officers and used rescue climbers to detain the protesters. Six individuals were detained during that action. Video from the scene showed the activists chanting, "Yalla, yalla, intifada."
The Berlin incident occurred while tens of thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam on the same day. Organizers estimated that 200,000 people attended a protest demanding the Dutch government act against Israel. Many demonstrators wore red, a reference to the "red line" slogan. Steven Eisinger, a 33-year-old robotics engineer from the United States, told the AFP that he was Jewish and supported Palestine. He noted that he wanted to show his opposition to what he described as genocide.
The Netherlands has not recognized the State of Palestine, unlike France and Belgium. However, the Dutch government banned products from Israeli settlements in the West Bank in late September. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar revoked the accreditation of Dutch diplomats in response to the ban. Prime Minister Rob Jetten said on Friday that it would be inappropriate for him to attend similar protests now, as he did when he was a parliamentary candidate in 2025.
