Protester advocating against Israel detained during Tour de France event
In the aftermath of the Gaza conflict that erupted on October 7, 2023, France has witnessed a significant increase in antisemitic incidents, deeply impacting the Jewish community and causing societal division.
According to recent reports, the number of antisemitic acts recorded in France in 2024 was 1,570, making up 62% of all religiously motivated hate crimes. The conflict appears to have fuelled this surge, with a series of violent attacks, hate crimes, vandalism, and threats targeting Jewish individuals and institutions.
One of the most notable incidents occurred on May 17, 2024, when an Algerian arsonist set fire to a synagogue in Rouen, causing substantial damage. Another synagogue in La Grande-Motte was set on fire on August 24, 2024, by a man citing support for Palestine, resulting in an explosion that lightly injured a police officer.
In June 2024, two teenagers were charged with the gang rape of a 12-year-old Jewish girl with antisemitic insults, explicitly referencing Palestine. Synagogues and a restaurant in Paris were vandalized with green paint, highlighting ongoing hate symbols.
Antisemitic harassment has extended into educational institutions as well. On the first anniversary of the Gaza war (October 7, 2024), a Moroccan-French student hacked a university intranet, replacing Jewish student union photos with Palestinian flags, causing heightened tensions in academic settings.
The French government has registered 327 antisemitic acts since October 7, 2024, with 183 arrests related to antisemitism or terrorism apologism. Public expressions of pro-Palestinian support have been heavily restricted to prevent antisemitism and public disorder, leading to feelings among Palestinian supporters of being silenced amid fears of arrest or job loss.
The attack on synagogues and individuals, combined with an atmosphere of hostility including violent and verbal antisemitism, has created heightened fear, insecurity, and trauma among French Jews. Vandalism of Holocaust memorials and public spaces signals deep societal tensions and the targeting of Jewish identity and heritage.
The rise in antisemitic violence has coincided with increased security measures around Jewish institutions. Attempts to express Jewish presence and identity are met with direct threats and aggression, including in schools and public spaces, affecting daily life and community cohesion.
Elsewhere, the Tour de France has been disrupted by antisemitic incidents. During the 11th stage in Toulouse, a protester was arrested for breaching security and displaying anti-Israel sentiments. The Israel-Premier Tech team, participating in the Tour de France, currently has no Israeli riders competing in this year's race.
In a separate incident, a 70-year-old Jewish man was brutally attacked in the town of Anduze, near Aleles, France, while wearing a kippah and tzitzit. French Rabbi Elie Lemmel was attacked twice within a single week, starting in early June.
Antisemitic incidents in France have increased by 185%, according to testimonies in a recent Knesset discussion. The Israel-Premier Tech team had previously advised its riders to refrain from wearing jerseys with any explicit reference to Israel while training due to international controversy surrounding the conflict.
Despite the French government's active response to the surge in antisemitic incidents, tensions remain high, and the Jewish community continues to face challenges in maintaining their security and well-being.
In the span of a year following the Gaza conflict, French sports events such as the Tour de France have been disrupted by antisemitic incidents, with protesters displaying anti-Israel sentiments. Additionally, general news reports reveal a significant rise in crime and justice issues, including assaults on Jewish individuals and institutions, alongside an alarming increase in antisemitic hate crimes in sports, such as the absence of Israeli riders in the Israel-Premier Tech team participating in the Tour de France.
