Pro-Palestine movements face state repression in Germany and UK

Pro-Palestine activism in Germany and the United Kingdom has faced significant state repression and legal challenges over the three years following the escalation of conflict in Gaza.

In Berlin, authorities have utilized bans on demonstrations, symbols, and specific political expressions to manage protests. Despite initial bans and police intervention in neighborhoods like Neukölln, activists have continued to hold assemblies, leading to thousands of ongoing criminal proceedings aimed at the movement.

In the United Kingdom, the movement has shifted from mass marches toward direct action targeting businesses linked to the Israeli arms industry, such as Elbit Systems. Following incidents of property damage and interference with military assets, the UK government moved to proscribe the group Palestine Action as a terrorist organization. This designation has triggered widespread civil disobedience and mass arrests under anti-terror laws, though observers suggest these measures have not deterred the growth of the movement.