The officer was pulled into the crowd and knocked to the ground, according to Berlin police spokesperson Florian Naat, who spoke to the German news agencies. Emergency responders administered initial treatment, including the use of a defibrillator, before rushing the officer to a hospital in serious condition. Several other officers sustained injuries, with at least one diagnosed with a broken hand. Approximately 30 protesters were detained during the clashes.

Alexander Throm (56), a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and spokesperson for internal affairs in the Bundestag, condemned the attackers as "pro-Palestinian thugs" and demanded their expulsion if they are foreign nationals. In an interview with Bild, Throm stated, "Police officers represent our state. Those who attack them express contempt for our country. Foreigners who do so jeopardize their right to remain in Germany."

Eine Gruppe Polizisten läuft in die Nakba-Day-Demo in Berlin hinein – schubsend, prügelnd, um sich schlagend. Ganz vorne mit dabei: Polizist BE24111. Schwere Verletzungen erhaltend, laut Polizeibericht. Doch die Bilder zeigen etwas anderes. #nakba77 #b1505pic.twitter.com/V2SYk3Vrgs

— kater hofmann (@KaterHofmann) May 18, 2025

Throm referenced the coalition agreement that formed the current government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, noting that it mandates permanent deportation for crimes carrying prison sentences or those motivated by antisemitism. "This means revoking residency rights – no ifs, no buts," he said. He added that the CDU and Social Democratic Party (SPD) have agreed to impose harsher penalties for assaults on police and emergency personnel, emphasizing, "We must finally respond to such criminals with the full force of the law and unwavering resolve."

Witnesses reported hearing chants during the protest such as "Israel, child murderer," "Yalla, yalla intifada," and "From the river to the sea." Protesters also hurled cans, bottles, and other objects at police, with some officers sprayed with red paint.

Felix Klein (57), Germany's federal commissioner for Jewish life and the fight against antisemitism, joined the calls for action. "The massive antisemitic incitement, the creation of an extremely violent atmosphere, and the displays of force in public spaces by so-called 'pro-Palestinian' groups constitute an unacceptable abuse of fundamental democratic rights, which I condemn in the strongest terms," Klein said.

He continued, "This antisemitic incitement helps no one in the Gaza Strip and harms the legitimate concerns of Palestinians. The perpetrators must now be swiftly identified and held accountable."

The incident has intensified debates over public safety and immigration policies in Germany, with the coalition vowing to crack down on violence and hate speech at demonstrations.

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A climate of fear and intolerance has emerged in Germany, as Berlin Police Chief Barbara Slowik cautioned Jewish and LGBTQ individuals against entering certain areas of the German capital, Bild newspaper reported Monday.

"I have no intention of stigmatizing any particular group as criminals. Unfortunately, there are specific neighborhoods with a predominant Arab population that shows sympathy toward terrorist organizations. Open antisemitism is being expressed against people of the Jewish faith," Slowik stated.

"There are areas where, to be frank, I would advise those wearing kippahs or visibly identifying as LGBTQ to exercise additional caution. While violent crimes against Jews remain rare – though undoubtedly, even one such incident is too many – I can understand the persistent fear and cautiousness," she added.

Recent months have seen Germany grappling with a surge of anti-Israel demonstrations, prompting police in various locations to impose protest bans and forcefully disperse gatherings. The country has also witnessed Islamist groups organizing rallies advocating for Sharia law implementation, with demonstrators displaying Taliban flags.

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The largest opposition party in Germany has called for a dramatic overhaul of the country's approach to Iran. A current frontrunner in polls, the Christian Democratic Union is pushing for a tougher stance, including measures to weaken the Iranian regime and advocating for the European Union to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

The Iranian regime's long-standing record of funding global terrorism, destabilizing the Middle East, and threatening Israel's existence with support from Hamas and Hezbollah has been met with a policy of appeasement during the tenure of Angela Merkel, who led the CDU. Now, her own party appears poised for a significant policy shift.

A position paper on Iran, drafted by CDU lawmakers, advocates for a fundamental change in Berlin's s approach to Tehran, asserting that under its Islamist leadership, the Islamic Republic has become an unequivocal enemy of Germany across all domains. The time has come for Germany to act decisively and radically alter its stance toward Iran.

The paper outlines a strategy to weaken and isolate the regime to end its brutal oppression of its own people and mitigate threats to regional and global stability. Key proposals include pushing for the EU to designate the IRGC as a terror group and forming an anti-Iran coalition with moderate Arab states, including signatories of the Abraham Accords and Saudi Arabia.

Addressing Iran's nuclear ambitions, the CDU lawmakers call for a halt to the program. They propose that Germany, France, Britain, and the United States, in collaboration with other partners, develop a coherent and actionable strategy to prevent Iran's nuclear armament. The document advocates for imposing additional sanctions on Tehran and more rigorously enforcing existing commercial sanctions against countries that aid in their circumvention.

The policy paper also recommends taking action against clerics who persecute women in Iran and proposes banning any institution in Germany that serves as an information source or influence channel for the Iranian regime. As an immediate step, it calls for the closure of the Islamic Center in Hamburg.

The IRGC is currently designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, Bahrain, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and Sweden.

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