Anti-Israel demonstrations are planned in Berlin, Duisburg, Frankfurt, Hanover and Cologne on 7 October, the third anniversary of the Hamas-led attacks on Israel. According to the German Jewish newspaper Jüdische Allgemeine, some of the calls for participation contain slogans that appear to glorify or support terrorism.

The planned demonstrations have drawn criticism from the organisation Honestly Concerned, which warned that the anniversary risks being reframed on German streets. The organisation accused organisers of using the date to promote what it described as a false genocide narrative against Israel.

In Hanover, the group “Intifada Hannover” has announced a “Palestine March”, due to begin at the city’s main railway station at 5pm. Promotional material includes the slogan “3 years of genocide” alongside the phrase “Resistance until victory”. According to Jüdische Allgemeine, the latter can be understood as an expression of support for Palestinian terrorism.

The same banner features images of Palestinian children affected by the war, alongside an outline encompassing Israel, Gaza and the West Bank. Critics argue that this imagery represents a call for the elimination of Israel and is consistent with Hamas’s stated objectives.

Organisers of demonstrations in Duisburg and Cologne are using the slogan “It did not begin on 7 October”. Honestly Concerned described the slogan and similar calls as an “unbearable distortion”, arguing that the victims of the 7 October attacks should not be written out of the history of the conflict.

The organisation called on police and judicial authorities to intervene where demonstrations involve the endorsement of terrorism, antisemitic incitement or calls for violence.

In Berlin, a demonstration titled “Down with Colonialism” is also scheduled for the evening of 7 October near Schlesisches Tor. Promotional material shared on social media includes the slogan “Until total liberation” and depicts a large excavator opening a border fence. Critics have noted the apparent reference to the breach of the Israel-Gaza border fence during the Hamas-led attacks on 7 October 2023.

At the same time, Berlin will host several events commemorating those killed in the attacks.

A major memorial gathering organised by several organisations, including the Central Council of Jews in Germany, is scheduled for 3pm at Bebelplatz. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt, Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor and other speakers are expected to attend.

Another memorial event is planned for 4pm at Sderotplatz, organised by the German-Israeli Society Berlin and Brandenburg. Speakers are expected to include Steglitz-Zehlendorf district mayor Maren Schellenberg and Adi Kaslasy-Way, a board member of the city partnership association. Sderot Mayor Alon Davidi is due to address the gathering by video message.

A further vigil against antisemitism is scheduled for 6pm at Bebelplatz. Its organisers describe 7 October 2023 as the anniversary of the “antisemitic massacres” and of the war launched by Islamist terrorist groups against Israel, followed by attacks and threats against Jewish life, democratic societies and diverse communities worldwide.

The organisers also say the vigil will oppose antisemitism and anti-Zionism, which they describe as a violent contemporary form of antisemitism, as well as antisemitism originating from the far right, far left, jihadist movements and other parts of society.