In 2025, German authorities observed a significant increase in the number of sympathizers and supporters of Hamas, the Islamist terrorist organization banned in the country. This rise is contributing to growing concerns about national security and the potential for terror attacks, especially in light of escalating tensions linked to the conflict in Gaza.
A Retreat and Recruitment Hub
Germany has become both a retreat space and an operational ground for Hamas. According to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), the number of Hamas supporters rose by 6% in 2025 compared to the previous year, reaching approximately 32,500 individuals. This figure includes general sympathizers, active supporters involved in demonstrations and fundraising, and a smaller core of around 550 individuals directly linked to the organization.
Authorities warn that Germany’s role in Hamas’ international strategy includes fundraising, ideological dissemination, and logistical support through online and offline networks. Financial flows to Hamas continue to come from multiple sources — including member contributions, international sympathizers, and foreign state actors such as Iran and Qatar.
Heightened Risk of Terrorist Attacks
The Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) maintains that there is still a “high level of abstract threat” to Jewish and Israeli targets in Germany. Security services express concern about radicalized individuals or small autonomous cells potentially committing acts of violence inspired by Hamas propaganda, which has increasingly circulated online and through social media.
One recent symbolic danger cited by experts is the red triangle, a visual marker used in Hamas-linked digital campaigns and demonstrations to indicate targets. This symbol, originally from video gaming, was reportedly painted on the door of Brandenburg’s Antisemitism Commissioner Andreas Büttner, who was later the victim of an arson attack on his property.
Foiled Plots and Arrests
There have already been arrests of suspected Hamas operatives in Germany accused of planning attacks. Videos from October 7, 2025, show demonstrators in Germany celebrating the Hamas attack on Israel that took place exactly two years prior, underlining the radicalizing effect of such propaganda.
The President of Germany’s Federal Intelligence Service (BND), Martin Jäger, warned that the displacement or suppression of Hamas in Gaza could lead to more activity abroad — including within Europe — as the group seeks to reestablish itself in diaspora communities.
Outlook
The presence of Hamas in Germany is not new, but its intensification and the broader support networks now in place represent an evolving threat. Security agencies are increasingly focused on both the physical risks posed by potential attacks and the ideological battlefield that unfolds online. German authorities continue to work to disrupt financial flows, uncover terrorist cells, and monitor demonstrations where Hamas-affiliated messages are promoted, while emphasizing the importance of societal resilience against extremist influence.
