From Gaza to Berlin – an artwork tears up old wounds

In Berlin's most central and tourist-rich district of Mitte, a new mural is attracting attention. On a building facade, in an area that is otherwise relatively free of graffiti, a 16-meter-high motif depicting a sad child with a teddy bear in her arms can be seen. Above the child is the text “Bring them home now”, next to an Israeli flag.  

The motif refers to the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which over 1 people were killed and more than 200 were kidnapped. Several of them children.  

 When the painting is visited on a quiet Tuesday morning, only a few passersby are visible. A young woman, Alina, visiting from Düsseldorf, stops and photographs the artwork.  

  – I think it's difficult. Maybe it's a bit controversial considering everything that's happening in Gaza. At the same time, what happened on October 7th was terrible, she says when asked to comment on the painting.  

 In the aftermath of the Hamas attack, Israel has launched a comprehensive military response against Gaza. According to the UN agency UNRWA, over 50 Palestinians have been killed, including thousands of children. Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and UN experts have accused Israel of committing violations of international law, classifying Israel's war as genocide. The Israeli government has also faced strong international criticism for blocking humanitarian aid – including food, medicine and water – from reaching the besieged civilian population.  

In Germany, the conflict has sparked debate about how the country's historical responsibility for Israel should be expressed publicly. After World War II and the Holocaust, the so-called Luxembourg Agreement was concluded between Germany and Israel, which laid the foundation for far-reaching economic, military and political support.  

The German commitment is often described as both a historical obligation and an attempt to ensure that history does not repeat itself. In several cities, Israeli flags hang on government buildings, often together with the Ukrainian flag, as a symbol of solidarity.  

 

In Frankfurt, a fire broke out recently political controversy up when Haluk Yildiz, party leader of the Bündnis für Innovation und Gerechtigkeit (Alliance for Innovation and Justice), a local party with ties to Turkey, suggested that the Israeli flag be taken down from the city hall during Ramadan – or that a Palestinian flag be raised next to it.  

  “The flag of a country that commits genocide is hanging on our city hall. How can Muslims, and especially Palestinians in Frankfurt, celebrate Ramadan in peace?” Yildiz argued in the newspaper. Middle East Eye. The proposal was voted down, citing Germany's special responsibility towards Israel.  

Opinion shifts from blame to criticism 

At the same time, popular support for Palestine is growing. In 2024, a series of pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been held across Germany, and stickers, graffiti and signs expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people can be seen on the streets of Berlin. According to a opinion poll from Forsa Research Institute, published in the newspaper Star, 60 percent of Germans believe that the country no longer has a special responsibility for Israel. 65 percent are also in favor of recognizing Palestine as an independent state – figures that show a clear change compared to previous surveys.  

A family passes us where we are standing, without stopping or noticing the facade of the house. Alina looks up at the crying child again. According to her, Germany's responsibility towards Israel must never be forgotten. 

 – We are the reason Israel exists, why Israel even needs to exist. I don't think what's happening in Gaza is right, but that doesn't mean we can stop supporting Israel's right to exist and to fight anti-Semitism. The Israeli flag is a symbol against anti-Semitism, and that's something we must always defend.  

 

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