A large swastika has been daubed on the alleged housing of elderly Holocaust survivors in a town in Belgium.
Along with the Nazi-era hate symbol, the graffiti is accompanied by the words “Gaza free”.
The incident occurred on Monday night and a picture of the suspected antisemitic incident was posted to X/Twitter on Tuesday by the official account of the European Jewish Congress. EJC wrote they were “utterly shocked that the home of Holocaust survivors has been vandalised in Fléron, Belgium. This is blatant, targeted antisemitism.
“It’s another disturbing incident in the wave of vile antisemitism that has swept the country since Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel.”
We are utterly shocked that the home of Holocaust survivors have been vandalized in Fléron, Belgium.
— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) April 2, 2024
This is blatant, targeted antisemitism.
It's another disturbing incident in the wave of vile antisemitism that has swept the country since Hamas's brutal attack on Israel. pic.twitter.com/mYwdlURdSu
Coordination Committee of Jewish Organisations of Belgium, the key umbrella organisation representing the Jewish community in Belgium, tweeted: “A strong and unambiguous response is required, beyond condemnations.”
Karen Pollock CBE, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, wrote on X/Twitter: “This is absolutely awful. Targeting a home of survivors of the Holocaust. A new low.”
The European Jewish Congress told the JC: “The vandalized property, owned by the same family, is divided into two sections: [one is] the family's residence. Notably, one resident is a Holocaust survivor who was hidden as a child during the war. Following the report, the police responded promptly and offered significant support to the affected family. They are actively investigating the case to apprehend the perpetrators.
“In a statement to the local media, the family emphasized that they are not Israeli; rather, they are being targeted simply because they are Jewish. This blatant antisemitism is deeply troubling. Furthermore, they underscored the diversity of the dentist's office, highlighting that it employs a multicultural team, including several Muslim individuals.
“The family's sentiment—that the situation feels reminiscent of the 1930s—is a chilling reminder of the gravity of the situation. Unfortunately, many share the belief that the current state of affairs may not improve.”
The Belgian police have been contacted for comment.
