Pro-Palestinian Activists Replace German Flag with Palestinian Flag at Reichstag

Pro-Palestinian activists on Sunday replaced the German flag with a Palestinian flag on a flagpole outside the Reichstag building in Berlin. The action was carried out by members of the group "Peacefully Against Genocide," who stated their aim was to protest the German government's policy toward Israel and its continued arms supply to the country. The group claimed the German government "is not doing enough to stop human rights violations and crimes they claim are being committed against Palestinians in Gaza." One group member told the Turkish Anadolu Agency that "governments around the world are not acting in the name of the public when they are silent, allowing, or supporting what we see as crimes against Palestinians." He added that the action was intended to spark a discussion about the German slogan "Never Again" and its meaning in relation to current policy. Berlin police announced that three activists were arrested at the scene, and an investigation has been opened on suspicion of insulting the state and its symbols. The group announced plans for further demonstrations in the coming days against German government policy and arms shipments to Israel, calling on arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to cease deliveries to Israel and close its Berlin facility.