Berlin’s Red Town Hall lowers Israeli flag after two years of heated debate

A symbol of solidarity becomes a flashpoint for division. Berlin’s decision to remove the Israeli flag marks the end of a contentious chapter tied to October 7.

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2025 December 2 . 1:02 PM

1 min read

In this picture there are people and soldiers. On right to the wall there is flag. At the top to... — In this picture there are people and soldiers. On right to the wall there is flag. At the top to the ceiling there are lights.

No Israeli flag in front of the Red City Hall anymore - Berlin’s Red Town Hall lowers Israeli flag after two years of heated debate

Berlin’s Red Town Hall has removed the Israeli flag that flew outside the building for over two years. The decision follows a period of debate and discussions and comes after the last surviving hostages were freed from Hamas captivity. The flag had been raised in solidarity with Israel after the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack. The flag was first hoisted in October 2023, shortly after Hamas killed around 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages into Gaza. Its display became a symbol of Berlin’s support for Israel and the abducted hostages. Over time, however, the move sparked controversy, with the Left Party and the Greens arguing that the Palestinian flags should also be raised. The flag will now be transported to Israel, where it will be formally presented to Tel Aviv. Its removal from the Red Town Hall closes a period of public debate in Berlin. The gesture remains tied to the events of October 7, 2023, and the subsequent hostage crisis.