Berlin Teacher Avoids Conviction After Striking Student in Palestine Flag Dispute

A Berlin court dismissed charges against a teacher accused of hitting a student during a confrontation over a Palestine flag, requiring him to pay an €800 fine.

The incident occurred on October 9, 2023, two days after Hamas's attack on Israel, at a Berlin-Neukölln school where a student displayed a Palestine flag.
The teacher, Andre T., claimed the slap was a reflex after the student allegedly made physical contact, though the student denied this and said the teacher initiated violence.
The court decided to drop the case against the teacher in exchange for an €800 payment, citing mitigating factors such as provocation and the teacher's subsequent mental health struggles.
The student, who has since transferred schools, is also facing charges for allegedly kicking the teacher during the altercation.
The case has sparked broader discussions about the intersection of political tensions and school environments, with both sides disputing the details of the confrontation.