Daily Times

Germany and France on Saturday moved to reinforce security around Jewish temples, schools and monuments after the surprise attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas against Israel.

Germany tightened police protection of Jewish and Israeli institutions, as some supporters of the Palestinians took to the streets of Berlin to celebrate the attack.

France focused on Jewish temples and schools in cities across the country, as one Jewish leader expressed concern at the possibility the conflict might be imported there.

“In Berlin, police protection has been immediately stepped up,” Germany’s Interior Minister Nancy Faeser told Bild newspaper. “The federal government and the regions are closely coordinating their actions.” Germany’s authorities were also closely watching “potential supporters of Hamas in the Islamist sphere”, she added.

Berlin police posted photos on social media showing “people celebrating the attacks on Israel by passing out pastries” on Sonnenallee, the main avenue in the city’s Neukoelln district. Police had in some cases carried out identity checks and filed complaints, they added.

The German account of the Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network posted photos of the distribution of pastries on the streets of Berlin and a message celebrating “the resistance of the Palestinian people”.

Martin Hikel, mayor of the Neukoelln district, denounced “a horrible glorification of a terrible war”, in comments to Welt television. He called on the government to ban “the disgusting terrorist propaganda of Samidoun”.

Later Saturday, Berlin’s famous Brandenburg Gate, a symbol of reunified Germany, was lit up in the colours of the Israeli flag. “In solidarity with Israel,” wrote Chancellor Olaf Scholz on X, formerly Twitter. Israel’s ambassador replied on the same platform, thanking him for “this beautiful symbol”.