German minister condemns celebration of Iran missile attack on Israel

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser condemned yesterday celebratory scenes in the country following Iran’s missile attack on Israel. The minister vowed a firm response from the police and judiciary after expressing that she was “deeply concerned” by the spontaneous marches after the attack.

German media outlets broadcast images of two pro-Palestine marches in Berlin accompanied by cheers, applause and celebratory music as news of the Iranian attack spread among the participants. According to the German minister, such scenes were also recorded in Bonn.

“I am shocked and angry at the celebration of this form of violence,” she told a press conference. “Any act that glorifies and supports Hamas or Hezbollah in Germany is punishable, even on the street.”

Faeser added that due to the escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the German authorities are closely monitoring “the possible repercussions for the security situation in Germany,” adding that “the threat of Islamist, anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli acts is high.”

Meanwhile, the German foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador in Berlin following the missile attack launched by his country on Tuesday evening.

A foreign ministry spokesman, Steffen Hebstreithe, said that the ambassador was out of the city, so the Chargé d’Affaires had been informed that the German government condemns the attack in the strongest terms and that there was no justification for it. The spokesman added that the foreign ministry called on Iran to refrain from launching further attacks on Israel, including attacks via its allies.

Regarding the issue of imposing additional sanctions on Iran, Hebstreithe said Berlin is currently considering “a full range of measures” in cooperation with European and international partners, noting that a virtual meeting of the G7 leaders is expected to be held later in the day.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock will also hold consultations in the afternoon with her counterparts from the US, UK, France and Italy, according to the same source.

Iran’s missile barrage was in response to Israel’s killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in July, and Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut last week.

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