For a just peace in Palestine and Israel

This was the call for rallies on 15 February 2025 in Berlin, Cologne and Nuremberg.

for a just peace

in Palestine and Israel

Finally end the killing, stop arms exports!

There is no safe place in the entire Gaza Strip. Already a year ago, the International Court of Justice ruled that there was a “real and imminent risk” of genocide. The situation in the Gaza Strip has steadily deteriorated since. Israel’s disproportionate military force, repeated mass displacements, systematic destruction of civil infrastructure and deliberate withholding of humanitarian aid, food, clean drinking water and medical care are endangering hundreds of thousands of lives. Large parts of North Gaza lie in ruins; the extent of death, injury and ethnic cleansing is deeply shocking. In the West Bank, people are exposed to the violence of the army and the settlers. In Lebanon, military action led to the destruction of entire villages.

We are witnessing a devastating escalation of violence, suffering and lawlessness. More than 45,000 people in Gaza, more than 800 in the West Bank and more than 1,200 people in Israel have been killed in the current war since 7 October 2023. Many thousand people are being arbitrarily detained in Israel, and about 100 hostages are still in Gaza. At least 109,000 Palestinians have been injured, and tens of thousands more are missing. Almost the entire population of Gaza, 1.9 of the 2.1 million inhabitants, have been displaced within their country multiple times. About 100,000 Israelis have been evacuated since October 2023. In Lebanon, more than 880,000 people had to flee attacks and destruction, more than 3,800 were killed and more than 15,000 injured. In Syria, too, the population is exposed to illegal bombing and occupation by the Israeli military.

We will not and cannot remain silent about all this. We condemn all war crimes in this war and all crimes against humanity, both those of the Israeli government and those of Hamas and other armed Palestinian groups. We mourn all victims of violence in Palestine, Lebanon and Israel. We fear for the thousands who are held in Israel without due process and often subjected to torture and abuse. We fear for those who were abducted to Gaza as hostages. We stand in solidarity with all who work for peace and equal rights for everyone in the region.

While the German government rightly condemns the war crimes of Hamas, it still fails to call the war crimes of the Israeli government and military by name. It is seriously damaging the universal validity of humanitarian law by questioning the protective status of civilian facilities in Gaza and ignoring opinions and decisions of the world’s highest courts. With its one-sided solidarity, its partisanship before international courts and its renewed extensive licensing of arms exports, the German government is supporting the illegal actions of the Israeli government.

In Germany, we are experiencing police violence and massive infringements on the freedom of expression and assembly in the context of solidarity with Palestine. The antisemitism resolution that the German parliament adopted in November 2024 against the broad resistance of German and Israeli civil society has further exacerbated this problem. We are firmly opposed to the criminalization of legitimate protest and are taking our criticism of the war in Gaza and of the role of the German government to the streets.

We are taking to the streets to declare: A “Staatsräson” that applies double standards to human rights and international law is of no use to anyone and, despite repeated political declarations, does not contribute to the security of the Israeli population either. Human rights and international law apply to everyone. Human lives must not be measured with double standards: Every life is equally precious.

We demand from the current as well as the incoming German government:

At long last stand up for international law and protect the suffering civilian population: Insist on an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire without ifs or buts and help ensure that the International Court of Justice’s demand for protection and supply of the civilian population in Gaza is finally enforced.
Do not supply Israel with any military equipment as long as there is a risk that it will be used in violation of international law.
Work for the release of all people being wrongfully held in Palestine and Israel.
Hear the demands of the Palestinian and Israeli civil society that advocates for a just peace and actively support their already challenging work instead of impeding it.
Support the international judiciary without restriction, implement its decisions fully and contribute to ending decades of impunity.
Heed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice of 19 July 2024 and the associated resolution of the UN General Assembly and push for an immediate end of the illegal occupation, the construction of settlements in violation of international law and the expulsion of the Palestinian population in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.
Recognize the Palestinians’ right to self-determination without reservation and consistently work for its realization.
Protect and defend freedom of expression and assembly in Germany instead of undermining them.

With this event, we want to create a space for peaceful protest that is free from discrimination and violence. We will not accept any racist, anti-Palestinian and/or antisemitic statements or actions.

We welcome the rally and our demands being promoted in and by political parties. However, as a non-partisan network we kindly ask you not to bring along party flags. Particularly in view of the upcoming federal elections, we don’t want our rally to be dominated by the election campaign. Independence is important to many of the supporting organizations in their daily work – here and on the ground.

The Berlin rally was organized by:

Amnesty International Deutschland • Ärzte der Welt • CARE Deutschland • Deutsch-Palästinensische Gesellschaft • Humanistische Union • IPPNW Deutschland • Israelis für Frieden • medico international • 4neukoellnplusberlin • Oxfam Deutschland • pax christi, Deutsche Sektion • Sea-Watch • Terre des Hommes Deutschland • Weltfriedensdienst