He was speaking at an event to mark the anniversary of the November pogroms of 1938, sometimes known as "Kristallnacht."Berlin's staunch diplomatic support for Israel is often described as a matter of historic responsibility.

But as fighting continues between Israel and Hamas, social discord is emerging in Germany. I meet a woman called Noa at a Berlin synagogue, and she tells me how she has family who survived the Holocaust by hiding in Poland.

Fears about a rise in antisemitism since the outbreak of hostilities between Hamas and Israel are widespread across Europe. For Germany, incidents such as two petrol bombs being thrown towards a Berlin synagogue in October spark acute anxiety due to the nation's Nazi past.

Since October 7, senior politicians have urged people, particularly from parts of the political left and Muslim backgrounds, to distance themselves from the actions of Hamas. Israel's security is a fundamental cornerstone of German foreign policy, with the former chancellor, Angela Merkel, declaring it to be a Staatsräson (reason of state) in 2008.

On a recent visit to Israel, Olaf Scholz said: "In such difficult times, there is only one place we can be: at Israel's side." But Germany's state doctrine is being visibly challenged on the streets of cities like Berlin.

This march was permitted to take place, whereas many have been banned. Nadim Jarrar, who attended the 9,000-strong demo, tells me he's frustrated by the "one-sided" narrative.He thinks Germany must be more prepared to talk about the actions of Israel. "It's a healthy process for every nation to get criticised and to have a discussion about what's going on." Any German discomfort with that debate, he believes, cannot lead to shutting it down.