About Us

Background

For years, people in Palestine have been losing everything every single day. People who want to laugh, dream, and live—and who have always wanted to. Parents search for bread and water; families hope for a tomorrow where they won’t have to endure the horror of this world every day. Hundreds of thousands of people, more than half of them children, have been killed in Gaza so far—including with German weapons.

The so-called ceasefire in place since October, like previous ceasefire agreements, has led to a reduction in the scale—but not an end—of the mass, indiscriminate killing of innocent Palestinians. In the West Bank, Palestinian life is being destroyed in more and more villages and communities through violence, displacement, and restrictions. Homes are being demolished and looted, land is being expropriated, and military raids are a daily occurrence. Freedom of movement is severely restricted, with checkpoints and roadblocks separating families from one another. Many people live in constant fear of attacks by settlers or soldiers; at least 900 people have already been killed in the West Bank. Nothing justifies these crimes.

None of these crimes would be possible without the military and financial support of the U.S., the EU, and the UK. For years, Germany has been the second-largest supplier of weapons to the Israeli terrorist army, thereby actively supporting the genocide that Israel is currently committing against the Palestinians. This constitutes a violation of international law and the Genocide Convention, making Germany and the entire federal government accomplices. In doing so, the German federal government is acting undemocratically and against the will of the people it purports to represent.

In doing so, the German government is forcing us, the people of Germany, to be complicit in genocide: because we shop here, we pay taxes here, we enable this genocidal system, and we legitimize it. We refuse to allow this to continue and are joining the global resistance against the colonial Zionist project. We are collaborating with national and international groups and engaging in peaceful civil resistance.

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Values

We see ourselves as part of the global, peaceful movement against colonial violence in general and the genocidal Zionist project in particular. Our actions are driven by a deep belief in humanity, empathy, and the dignity of every person. Inspired by historical movements and guided by international law, we rely on nonviolent civil disobedience as a democratic means to expose power structures and create a more just society that prioritizes solidarity over profit and indifference.

We are a learning organization committed to creating non-discriminatory spaces and strengthening national and international networks. Through respectful communication, mutual support, and a collective examination of our own privileges, we aim to foster a movement that brings about both major political change and small moments of connection. Our shared goal is to gradually build a world centered on humanity and justice.

Empathy, compassion, and support

We see ourselves as part of the resistance, in solidarity with Palestinians and all people worldwide who are threatened by systematic violence, displacement, and hunger. Our commitment is an expression of solidarity: we are not fighting for ourselves alone, but for humanity in this world. Nonviolent resistance is our tool for bringing to light what is meant to remain hidden, and for sparking changes that make a more humane coexistence possible.

Vision

Our vision is a strong and broad movement that demonstrates: People in Germany do not condone the genocide in Palestine or the German government’s complicity. We want to challenge the structures of power and create spaces for action where a different kind of politics becomes possible. Our vision is a society that prioritizes empathy over indifference, humanity over power interests, and solidarity over silence.

Nonviolence

Our actions are deliberately nonviolent. We know that the police try to provoke us into escalation through intimidation, violence, and provocations. But we will not be provoked. Nonviolence lends us credibility, opens the door to broad support, and demonstrates that we stand for a more humane and just world. We carry out every action consciously, knowing that it may lead to repression and consequences, and knowing that it is morally right. We treat one another with respect and treat all people with dignity.

What guides us

We are guided by international law and fundamental rights. We follow in the tradition of nonviolent civil disobedience, inspired by movements such as Nelson Mandela’s in South Africa, the Serbian Otpor! movement, Leymah Gbowee’s in Liberia, and Martin Luther King’s in the United States.

At the same time, we incorporate scientific findings on the effectiveness of historical and contemporary protest movements and forms of protest into our strategy and tactics. We always strive to act where we see potential for effectiveness.

Communication

We treat one another with trust and honesty. We communicate clearly, honestly, and respectfully with one another, and together we aim to create a space where we all feel comfortable and can work together.

Democratic values

Nonviolent civil resistance is a democratic tool. We are taking action because the people of Germany do not want to be complicit in the genocide in Palestine, while the government continues to supply weapons and provide political support. Our resistance highlights this contradiction. Our collective action as humans makes change possible.

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Protest Consensus

We are completely nonviolent in our actions and strive to be nonviolent in our language as well. We do not insult anyone. This applies both to our interactions with one another and to our interactions with the public, the police, and everyone else.

We stand by our words and actions and always act openly and transparently. This is a fundamental principle for us. At the same time, as a group, we recognize that people are affected by repression to varying degrees and that nonviolent protest involves fewer risks for privileged groups. In a campaign, there are various roles that can only contribute to a strong movement when working together. Every person who shares the campaign’s core values should have the opportunity to participate in the role in which they feel comfortable. 

We do not tolerate any form of discriminatory speech or behavior, and we stand in solidarity with one another. If someone behaves in a discriminatory manner, those who are not directly affected must step in. We all share the responsibility to ensure that discrimination does not occur. 

We look out for one another. We are mindful of each other’s needs and work together to create spaces where we can talk openly about our fears, worries, and hopes.

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