Paris Holocaust Memorial Defaced on Nazi Roundup Anniversary

A Holocaust memorial in Paris was defaced with blood-red handprints, in what has been widely condemned as a hateful act of antisemitism. The incident occurred overnight at the Wall of the Righteous within the Shoah Memorial, which commemorates those who risked their lives to save Jews during Nazi occupation in World War II. The vandalism coincided with the anniversary of the first major roundup of French Jews by the Nazis on May 14, 1941.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo described the vandalism as an "unspeakable act" and has filed a complaint with the Paris prosecutor's office. "No cause can justify such degradations that dirty the memory of the victims of the Shoah and of the Righteous who saved Jews at risk to their lives," Hidalgo stated, emphasizing the sacrilege against historical memory and heroism.

Yonathan Arfi, president of the French Jewish representative body Crif, highlighted the timing and symbolism of the vandalism as particularly egregious, connecting it to past acts of violence against Jews, including the notorious lynching of two Israeli soldiers in 2000 by a Palestinian mob in Ramallah. This historical echo intensifies the antisemitic nature of the act, suggesting a deliberate invocation of past Jewish traumas.

The defacement has sparked a strong response from both Jewish and non-Jewish leaders across France and Europe. The European Jewish Congress expressed sadness and disgust, calling it an "outrageous disrespect to the memory of Holocaust victims and the individuals who risked their lives to save Jews." Dani Dayan, chairman of Yad Vashem, Israel’s national memorial to the Holocaust, condemned the act and urged French authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

This incident is part of a broader surge in antisemitic incidents in France, which have dramatically increased since the Hamas terror group’s attacks across southern Israel on October 7. The last quarter of 2023 saw antisemitic outrages in France rise by over 1,000 percent compared to the previous year, with more than 1,200 incidents reported — a stark increase from the total number reported over the previous three years combined.

The vandalism of the Shoah Memorial in Paris is a poignant reminder of the persistent threat of antisemitism and the need for continued vigilance and education to combat hatred in all its forms. For more on this and related stories, consider sharing this article and subscribing for updates on how communities around the world are responding to antisemitism.