Berlin, Germany - September 18, 2024

On September 18, 2024, demonstrators gathered at Wittenbergplatz in Berlin to protest the recent violence in Lebanon and the ongoing war in Gaza. Waving Palestinian and Lebanese flags, pro-Palestinian protesters voiced their anger over the deaths of civilians and the escalating violence. Chants such as "Occupation no more," "Intifada revolution," "Freedom for Palestine," and "Netanyahu terrorist" echoed through the square, with many participants calling attention to the toll the war has taken on Lebanese and Palestinian civilians. The protest comes in the wake of two days of explosions in Lebanon and Syria, where explosive devices hidden in pagers and walkie-talkies killed and injured Hezbollah members and civilians. The blasts, which have been described as one of Hezbollah's most significant security breaches, have raised fears of further escalation between Israel, Hamas, and Hezbollah, stoking tensions across the region. Many protesters in Berlin expressed outrage over the loss of civilian life in Lebanon, chanting, "Civilians were killed in Lebanon; this can no longer be tolerated." A counterprotest in support of Israel gathered nearby, with demonstrators defending Israel's actions in Gaza.ӣӨSoundbite Transcript: Protester named Habil:ԙԞ"We stand with the Palestinians, with the Palestinian people, and we express our solidarity with them because they are being oppressed, massacred, and subjugated by the Israeli occupation state, treated almost like slaves. What happened yesterday in Lebanon, where many people were injured or even killed in public places, supermarkets, and hospitals, deeply hurts us. We are against such attacks."