Surprising Pro-Israel Demonstrations Erupt in Arab World and Germany
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Thousands of Druze in Syria's Suwayda province and various ethnic groups in Germany held demonstrations supporting Israel on the third anniversary of the October 7th attack. The Syrian Druze drew parallels between the October 7th victims and their own massacre in July 2025, displaying Israeli flags and photos of Prime Minister Netanyahu. In Germany, Kurds, Alawites, and Iranians who have experienced persecution also rallied in solidarity with Israel. These events occurred amidst ongoing global discourse and protests related to the conflict.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Thousands of Druze in Syria's Suwayda province demonstrated in solidarity with Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu.
- Syrian Druze drew parallels between the October 7th massacre and a Druze massacre in July 2025.
- In Germany, Kurds, Alawites, and pro-Israel Iranians also held pro-Israel rallies.
- Demonstrators in Syria displayed Israeli flags and photos of Israeli and Druze leaders.
- The groups supporting Israel cited their own experiences with massacres and persecution.
- The events marked the third anniversary of the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel.
On the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, unexpected displays of support for Israel have emerged from within the Arab world and among various ethnic groups in Germany. In Syria's Suwayda province, thousands of Druze gathered in Al-Karama Square to express solidarity with Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They drew parallels between the victims of the October 7th attack and the Druze victims of a massacre in July 2025, where thousands were killed and hundreds taken captive by forces identified with Al-Julani. Participants held signs stating, "The butchers and violence that harmed civilians in Israel," alongside images of the Suwayda victims, proclaiming, "Our pain is one, their terror is one" and "The butchers are many, the perpetrators are one."
Israeli flags and pictures of Prime Minister Netanyahu, along with Druze leader Hakmat al-Hijri and Israeli Druze spiritual leader Muwaffaq Tarif, were displayed. The demonstrations highlighted the shared experience of facing "religious and political extremism and violence." This solidarity is unprecedented in the Middle East, with the Druze community emphasizing that those who harmed civilians in Israel are the same type of violent actors who attacked them.
Concurrently, in Germany, thousands of Kurds, Alawites, and pro-Israel Iranians demonstrated in support of Israel. These groups, having themselves experienced persecution and massacres, identified with Israel's plight. The Kurds recalled their slaughter by Saddam Hussein, the Iranians cited ongoing repression by their regime, and the Alawites remembered a massacre in Syria in March 2025. These gatherings occurred amidst counter-demonstrations in Berlin accusing Israel of committing atrocities against Palestinians.
The article notes Israel's historical support for minority groups in the Middle East, referencing its past aid to Kurds in Iraq and Christians in Lebanon during the First Lebanon War, suggesting a new role for Israel as a protector of minorities.
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