Politics · Germany · 2 hrs ago
Elif Eralp’s private notes on Hamas sympathisers stir Berlin political debate
Berlin Left Party leader Elif Eralp said she feared for her family if she publicly named a man described as a Hamas sympathiser.
Her comments appeared in internal notes accidentally included in the approved version of an interview sent to the magazine.
The notes concerned Ibrahim Ibrahim, who attended a Left Party election event in Neukölln in September and is described as a Hamas sympathiser.
Eralp wrote that she and her husband were afraid, and said police had previously advised her not to name specific people.
Eralp wants to lead Berlin in a coalition with the Social Democrats and Greens, so the disclosures have raised questions about that possible government.
Politicians from the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats criticised her, with some questioning whether she could protect the city and resist pressure from extremists.
Berlin’s parliament is due to hold its first session after the election, with the choice of its president among the main items; the sources do not say whether the controversy will change coalition plans.
Berlin Left Party candidate Elif Eralp said in internal comments to a Spiegel interview that she feared naming people she said had contacts to Hamas.
The comments were included by mistake in the interview document her office returned to the magazine, according to reports by t-online and Bild.
Eralp said the state criminal police had previously advised her not to name specific people.
Her spokesperson said she had faced insults, threats and hostility for months and that security authorities had advised against naming individuals in such contexts.
The reports said the comments surfaced as Berlin’s newly elected parliament was due to hold its first session.
- Who
- Elif Eralp, the Berlin Left Party’s lead candidate for mayor.
- What
- She said she feared putting herself and her family in danger by naming people she said had contacts to Hamas.
- When
- The reports were published on October 29, 2026; the interview was conducted earlier that week.
- Where
- Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- She said the state criminal police had previously advised her not to name specific people; her spokesperson cited security advice.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spiegel interviewed Eralp.
Eralp’s office returned an authorised interview document that included internal comments and notes.
Ibrahim Ibrahim appeared at a Berlin Left Party election party in Neukölln, according to t-online.
t-online and Bild reported on Eralp’s comments.
Berlin’s House of Representatives was due to hold its first session since the election.
- Candidate
- Elif Eralp
- Party
- The Left
- Reported figure
- Ibrahim Ibrahim
- Party event
- Election party in Berlin-Neukölln
- Document
- Authorised Spiegel interview with internal comments included
- Reported publication date
- October 29, 2026
6 sources
Berlin’s far-left mayoral candidate admits fear of supporters who back Hamas
"Spiegel": Eralp fürchtet um Sicherheit ihrer Familie
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What people are saying
I cannot put myself and my family in danger for Spiegel.
The state criminal police advised me back then never to name specific people.
Berlin cannot be intimidated.
The security authorities therefore advised her not to name individual people when it comes to contacts to organised crime or terror.