SHOTLIST:

BERLIN, GERMANY (SEPT. 4, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL)

1. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WHO GATHERED IN FRONT OF CHANCELLERY BUILDING / BANNERS, BANNERS ON GROUND / DEMONSTRATORS LAYING FLOWERS ON GROUND BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPT. 4, 2025: A group of mothers in Germany, calling themselves "Mütter und mehr gegen Merz" (Mothers against Merz), staged a demonstration in front of the Chancellery building to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The initiative, consisting of mothers, reacted against the German government's silence and inaction against Israel’s attacks.

The initiative addressed the German government and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, demanding "a tougher stance against Israel's blocking of aid entry, a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel and a halt to all arms exports, the suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement due to violations of international law, the protection of freedom of assembly in Germany, and an end to the criminalization of voices in solidarity with Palestine."

The distributed press release stated, "Political inaction in the face of a humanitarian disaster that has lasted months is unacceptable. Germany must increase pressure on the Israeli government."

The statement, which noted that people in Germany who stand in solidarity with Palestine are frequently criminalized and face police violence, also referenced the humanitarian crises in Gaza, Sudan, and Congo, saying, "In these conflicts, civilians are paying the price of political power struggles and violence. We are raising our voices for humanity, solidarity and justice."

Since March 2, Israeli authorities have completely closed all Gaza border crossings, pushing the territory’s 2.4 million population into famine.

A UN-backed food security assessment has already confirmed famine in northern Gaza and expects it to spread further south by the end of September.

The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18 and has since killed 11,699 people and injured 49,542 others, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.