Workshop: Two Years of War between Israel and Hamas – An Assessment

On October 7, 2025, the terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel marked its second anniversary. The Research Center for Religious Diversity took this occasion to reflect on the changes that have occurred in Germany during this time.

The workshop, held on October 16, 2025, in Erlangen, began with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Mathias Rohe, who focused on developments in Germany. Dr. Ghassan El Masri then provided an overview of the situation in the Middle East, highlighting the role of Turkey.

The afternoon was specifically dedicated to the state of interreligious dialogue in Germany.

A special momentum was created by the fact that just a few days prior, a ceasefire had been agreed upon between Hamas and Israel, along with the release of all remaining Israeli hostages. The small spark of hope for peace for the people in Gaza and Israel was palpable among the participants, which included representatives from Judaism, Islam, Christian churches, and the civil society of Erlangen.

The workshop served as a preliminary conclusion to the series “Keep the Dialogue, Despite the Conflict”. Further event formats with an expanded thematic spectrum are being prepared for the year 2026.