Suche
Mein Konto
Peace appeal at the Brandenburg Gate: Wagenknecht and Hallervorden united!
On November 18, 2025, up to 20,000 people demonstrate at the Brandenburg Gate for peace and against arms deliveries to Gaza.
Peace appeal at the Brandenburg Gate: Wagenknecht and Hallervorden united!
On Saturday, November 18, 2025, a large solidarity rally under the motto “Stop the genocide in Gaza” took place at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. The demonstration was initiated by politician Sahra Wagenknecht and attracted up to 20,000 participants, while police estimated the number in attendance at 12,000. The protest has so far gone smoothly, apart from a man who was arrested on Simonstrasse and was carrying a criminal poster. Wagenknecht emphasized the importance of peace and criticized both war and those who profited from conflict. She demanded that Germany not act as a spectator, but rather take responsibility. Their warning was directed against both the justification of the Israeli actions and the Federal Chancellor's arms deliveries.
The demonstration was not only directed against Israel's military actions, but also against arms deliveries to conflict regions. Dieter Hallervorden and the rapper Massiv supported the protest and also spoke out against war. Hallervorden, who was announced as a speaker, recited a poem entitled “Gaza Gaza,” which he had written together with former Left Party member Dieter Dehm. Both quoted inspiring figures such as Martin Luther King and formulated appeals for change and peaceful disobedience. His rewritten version of “Bella Ciao” set an emotional accent, especially among the young listeners, which was rewarded with cheers and applause.
Peace movements in transition
In this mixed protest landscape, counter-events of over 7,000 people have been arranged under the German Peace Society/United War Resisters, who are also dealing with the current situation. The protests show a strong potential for frustration among the population, especially in view of rising energy prices and regional unrest. Meier calls for the different currents within the peace movement to be taken seriously, as they reflect the complexity of current social discourses.
Considerable differences were also noticeable in the number of participants in past demos. Initiators reported up to 40,000 people, while the police counted in the lower five-digit range. These contradictions highlight the challenges facing the peace movement and how relevant and tangible the pressure on the government to bring numbers and opinions into the political arena is.
The solidarity demonstration at the Brandenburg Gate is therefore a powerful sign that brings together the voices of those who are committed to peace and against military interventions.