Footage shows German police forcefully breaking up pro-Palestine protest
As we previously reported, police forcibly dispersed a pro-Palestine demonstration commemorating Nakba Day in Germany’s capital, Berlin, earlier this week. Video footage, verified by Al Jazeera’s fact-checking unit, shows police forcibly removing the protesters.
German media outlets quoted a spokesperson for Berlin police saying that its officers arrested more than 50 people, while 10 officers were injured.
الشرطة الألمانية تقمع متظاهرين داعمين لفلسطين في برلين وتعتقل 50 شخصا منهم على خلفية تنديدهم بحرب الإبادة في غزة#الجزيرة #فيديو pic.twitter.com/iKijhb3Yfv
— الجزيرة فلسطين (@AJA_Palestine) May 17, 2025
Eurovision threatens to fine Spanish broadcaster over Israel criticism
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has threatened Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE with punitive fines if its commentators repeat references to Israel’s devastating war on Gaza during the Eurovision final.
During Thursday’s broadcast, RTVE highlighted the deaths of more than 50,000 civilians, including at least 15,000 children, in Gaza as the Israeli candidate was introduced.
“Casualty figures have no place in an apolitical entertainment show,” said the EBU in a letter to RTVE, calling on it to follow guidelines prohibiting political statements that could “compromise the contest’s neutrality”.
“We count on RTVE’s full cooperation to prevent any recurrence. Any further breach may incur punitive fines under the rules,” it added.
RTVE also reiterated its call for a debate on Israel’s inclusion in the song competition and called for justice and respect for human rights during Thursday’s semifinals.
The Spanish daily El Pais reported that RTVE plans to include similar commentary during Saturday’s final. The EBU is handling Israel’s participation “poorly” by suppressing criticism and limiting freedom of expression, it said.
Earlier in the week, Belgium’s Flemish public broadcaster VRT included a pro-Palestinian message during the first semifinal. It has backed RTVE’s call for debate, along with delegations from Slovenia, Iceland and Ireland.
