pro Palestinian Berlin protests

Berlin (dpa) — Officers were violently attacked at the tourist attraction Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin during a protest rally against Israel’s policies in the Gaza Strip, the police said on Thursday evening.

More than 15 arrests were made, police spokesman Florian Nath said, based on initial information. Four police officers were injured.

The demonstrators accused Israel of starving the people in the Gaza Strip.

The police disbanded the assembly, which began at 4 pm (1400 GMT). However, demonstrators did not want to leave the area. Some sat down on the street. The police began clearing the area at around 7 pm.

According to the police, up to 300 demonstrators gathered at Checkpoint Charlie. There were physical attacks on police officers, said the spokesman.

Bags of paint and eggs were thrown at the officers, he said. Additionally, he said that prohibited slogans were repeatedlty shouted, such as “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” which calls for the eradication of Israel from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea.

The police will record the personal details of demonstrators who do not want to leave the assembly site and issue dispersal orders, said spokesman Nath. Additional forces have also been brought in.

The police accuse the demonstrators of, among other things, breach of the peace. This means that a crowd acts together and aggressively against officers.

Since 4 pm, there had been a loud protest at Checkpoint Charlie. The demonstrators were demanding an end to the hunger in the Gaza Strip. People shouted pro-Palestinian slogans, and many wore keffiyeh, traditional Palestinian scarves.