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PoliticsGermany

2 years after October 7: What has changed in Germany?

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October 6, 2025

Following the Hamas-led terror attacks on October 7, 2023, Germany fully supported Israel as it launched its offensive in Gaza. Two years on, the war continues, and several European countries recently recognized a Palestinian state. Germany wasn’t among them, but the country's position has shifted in the past 24 months.

Germany is seeing frequent protests over Israel's war in Gaza, with most rallies supporting Palestinians. Public opinion is shifting — 66% of Germans now urge more pressure on Israel. Antisemitic incidents have surged, prompting Chancellor Merz to condemn hate while suspending some arms deliveries. While Germany reaffirms its commitment to Israel, it backs a new US peace plan and urges the militant Hamas group to accept it.

Bernd Riegert Senior Correspondent in Berlin with a focus on people and politics in Germany