On September 10, 2025, a rally organized by Palestinian, left-wing, and anarchist groups such as “Anarchists4Palestine” and the “International Jewish Solidarity Network” (IJSN) took place in front of Zalando’s headquarters in Berlin-Friedrichshain. The mobilization was supported by the Neukölln district group of the Left Party.
The protest was directed against the online fashion retailer Zalando, which is accused of suppressing Palestine solidarity among its employees and banning symbols such as keffiyeh and watermelons. The Berlin Research and Information Center on Antisemitism (RIAS) was also in the spotlight. Its invitation to hold a non-public workshop on “Understanding and Confronting Anti-Semitism” at Zalando on that day was also in the spotlight. RIAS is a civil society organization specializing in documenting, analyzing, and combating antisemitism. Its primary focus is on recording antisemitic incidents, including those that are not criminally punishable, and providing support to those affected.
The participants accused Zalando and RIAS of promoting a “Zionist agenda” and thus of being complicit in a “genocide.” Zalando was also accused of discriminating against and repressing Arab and Palestinian employees.
Numerous speakers appeared, including Ibrahim I., a long-time PFLP activist known for organizing many demonstrations. He indirectly thanked the Houthi movement in Yemen, which carries out rocket and drone attacks against Israel. The Houthis are a Shiite group closely aligned with the Islamic Republic of Iran and are considered a terrorist organization.
Ibrahim I. is active in the “Democratic Committees of Palestine” in Berlin, which, among other things, organized anniversary celebrations for the PFLP. The PFLP, which is classified as a terrorist organization in the EU, the US, Israel, and Canada, among others, rejects the existence of Israel and pursues the goal of a unified Palestinian state through armed struggle. It was also involved in the anti-Semitic massacre of October 7, 2023.
Speeches delegitimized Israel as a whole and drew comparisons to National Socialism.
The rally, which began at 3 p.m., attracted dozens of participants and was promoted as part of the “Exposing Zalando” campaign.
Towards the end of the event, members of the banned group Samidoun, or Masar Badil, performed, heating up the atmosphere with Arabic chants. They praised the “Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades,” the armed wing of Hamas founded in 1991, as well as the so-called “Yasin rocket,” an anti-tank weapon they developed and used in the fight against Israel. Participants also chanted: “I come forth and in my hand is a knife! We die, and Palestine lives!”
When an activist protested at the edge of the rally with an Israeli flag, the situation threatened to escalate. Police formed a cordon to separate the groups. At least one person was taken into custody. Around 6 p.m., the gathering ended, and the participants dispersed.
