‘An intolerable act’: Holocaust memorial in France vandalized with ‘Free Gaza’
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Holocaust Memorial in Lyon Defaced With ‘Free Gaza’ Inscription
In France, a Holocaust memorial in Lyon was defaced with a “Free Gaza’ inscription. City officials said the act fueled concerns over an increase in anti-Jewish acts and hate crimes.
Lyon’s mayor, Grégory Doucet, condemned the vandalism as “an intolerable act” and pledged that those responsible would be identified and brought to justice.
Antisemitic incidents in France-home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the world-have surged since the Hamas-led attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza.
French Holocaust memorial vandalized with ‘Free Gaza’ inscription
A Holocaust memorial in Lyon was defaced with an insrciption of the words “Free Gaza” appearing to have been scratched into it. The monument was opened in January 2025 in honor of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar took to X after the incident, calling out France’s growing rate of antisemitic incidents and its negative reaction to the US Ambassador’s ‘unacceptable’ letter about the issue.
A Holocaust memorial in Lyon was defaced with an insrciption of the words “Free Gaza” appearing to have been scratched into it, city officials told AFP on Saturday, adding to already existing concerns over growing antisemitic crimes in France.
A photo city officials shared with AFP showed the inscription apparently scratched with a sharp object into the black marble of a plaque on the monument.
“The vandalism of the Holocaust Memorial in Lyon is an intolerable act. I condemn it and express my full solidarity with memory associations, survivors and their descendants. The perpetrators will be sought and prosecuted. Lyon stands firm against hatred, antisemitism and racism,” the city’s mayor, Gregory Doucet, wrote in a statement sent to AFP.
The monument was opened in January 2025 in honor of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.
“The fact that this inscription was made on a Holocaust memorial clearly constitutes an antisemitic act,” a city hall official told AFP. The offical also said the municipality had the vandalism quickly removed.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar took to X after the incident, calling out France’s growing rate of antisememitic incidents and its negative reaction to the US Ambassador’s ‘unacceptable’ letter last week about the issue.
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“Desecration of a Holocaust memorial in Lyon, France. But when the US Ambassador to France, Charles Kushner expressed his concern about the rising antisemitism there – he was rebuked for interfering in ‘internal affairs,'” he wrote in his post.
Minister of Immigration and Absorption, Ofir Sofer, also said in response to the vandalism, “The French government, which is considering awarding a prize for terrorism in the form of a Palestinian state and is offended by the American ambassador’s interference in its internal affairs, must first and foremost fight anti-Semitism directed against its Jewish citizens. Anti-Semitism that has not been seen for decades.”
French Holocaust memorial defaced with ‘Free Gaza’
A Holocaust memorial in Lyon was defaced with a “Free Gaza” inscription, city officials said. The inscription appeared to have been scratched into the black marble of a plaque on the monument with a sharp object. The monument in central Lyon was inaugurated in January 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. France’s Jewish community says the number of antisemitic acts has surged following the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.
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In a photo city officials shared with AFP, the inscription appeared to have been scratched into the black marble of a plaque on the monument with a sharp object.
“The vandalism of the Holocaust Memorial in Lyon is an intolerable act. I condemn it and express my full solidarity with memory associations, survivors and their descendants,” the city’s mayor, Gregory Doucet, wrote in a statement sent to AFP.
“The perpetrators will be sought and prosecuted. Lyon stands firm against hatred, antisemitism and racism,” Doucet added.
The monument in central Lyon was inaugurated in January 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.
“The fact that this inscription was made on a Holocaust memorial clearly constitutes an antisemitic act,” a city hall official told AFP, adding that the municipality had quickly removed the inscription to restore it.
READ ALSO: Anti-Semitic acts at ‘historic’ highs in France despite 2024 fall
The president of the Holocaust Memorial association, Jean-Olivier Viout, has filed a complaint, according to the city hall.
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France’s Jewish community — one of the largest in the world — says the number of antisemitic acts has surged following the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023 which was followed by Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza Strip and aid blockade.
In the first six months of 2025, 646 antisemitic acts were recorded across the country, according to the interior ministry — 27 percent less than in the first half of 2024, but a 112 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Defaced Memorial in Lyon Sparks Outcry Against Rising Antisemitism
‘Free Gaza’ written on a memorial in Lyon. Anti-Semitism on the rise in France. Calls for more to be done to stop the spread of anti-Semitism in the country. More to come on this story.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the CRIF, a representative body of Jewish institutions, labeled the act as ‘despicable.’ Mayor Gregory Doucet and Rhone region prefect Fabienne Buccio both condemned the act, calling it ‘intolerable’ and ‘shameful,’ while affirming their support for the Jewish community. Authorities assured that the perpetrators would face legal consequences.
Hate crimes, and particularly antisemitic incidents, are on the rise in France. This act follows a series of attacks, including the defacement of Jewish institutions in Paris. The situation has sparked international concern, with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu accusing President Macron of fostering antisemitism by advocating for the recognition of a Palestinian state. Macron has responded by denouncing antisemitism and increasing security around Jewish sites.
(With inputs from agencies.)
French Holocaust memorial defaced with ‘Free Gaza’ inscription
A Holocaust memorial in Lyon was defaced with a “Free Gaza” inscription, city officials said Saturday. The incident fuels concerns over an increase in antisemitic acts and hate crimes in France. The monument in central Lyon was inaugurated in January 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Israel accused France of failing to crack down on rising antisemitism and protect the Jewish community.. Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel: “France is no longer safe for Jews,” accusing the French government of “consent by silence”
In a photo posted by Jewish community leaders, the inscription appeared to have been scratched into the black marble of a plaque on the monument with a sharp object.
“The vandalism of the Holocaust Memorial in Lyon is an intolerable act. I condemn it and express my full solidarity with memory associations, survivors and their descendants,” the city’s mayor, Gregory Doucet, wrote in a statement sent to AFP.
“The perpetrators will be sought and prosecuted. Lyon stands firm against hatred, antisemitism and racism,” Doucet added.
Yonathan Arfi, president of the CRIF, a body representing Jewish institutions in France, described the incident as “despicable.”
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The monument in central Lyon was inaugurated in January 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp.
“The fact that this inscription was made on a Holocaust memorial clearly constitutes an antisemitic act,” a city hall official told AFP, adding that the municipality had quickly removed the inscription to restore the memorial.
The president of the Holocaust Memorial association, Jean-Olivier Viout, has filed a complaint, according to the city hall.
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France’s Jewish community – one of the largest in the world – says the number of antisemitic acts has surged following the attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were murdered and which launched the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
In the first six months of 2025, 646 antisemitic acts were recorded across the country, according to the interior ministry — 27 percent less than in the first half of 2024, but a 112 percent increase compared to the same period in 2023 before the war began.
Israel accused France of failing to crack down on rising antisemitism and protect the Jewish community.
The French government “isn’t doing a thing” to fight antisemitism, said Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel on Sunday after the memorial was defaced. “There is no deterrence. There is no enforcement.”
“France is no longer safe for Jews,” she said in an interview with Army Radio, accusing the French government of “consent by silence.”
In a letter sent in mid-August, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu complained that French President Emmanuel Macron’s promise that France would recognize a Palestinian state was fueling antisemitism.