Europe’s Spate of Hostilities Toward Jews and Israelis Prompts Antisemitism Calls

A series of incidents in which Israelis and non-Israeli Jews have been targeted in Europe recently has sparked accusations of anti-Israeli bias and antisemitism amid rising international tensions and pressure on Israel over the Gaza war as images of starving Palestinians heighten emotions.

The latest round of U.S.-led ceasefire talks for Gaza has collapsed, with the U.S. and Israel withdrawing negotiators from Qatar and blaming Hamas for the failure to reach agreement.

Newsweek contacted Israel’s foreign ministry and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas’ office for comment.

Why It Matters

Jewish groups have long warned of rising antisemitism in Europe, a concern that has surged since the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 that sparked the Gaza war. They say criticism of Israel is increasingly spilling into hate speech and threats against Jews.

Europe’s stance toward Israel over the war in Gaza has hardened, sparking criticism from Israel as relations have turned increasingly tense.

Both Israel and the United States have rejected President Emmanuel Macron‘s proposal to recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September. European countries are split over how to respond to Israel, but have restrained from imposing sanctions.

Passengers Removed

The removal of about 50 Jewish teens and their camp director from a Vueling flight has sparked accusations of antisemitic discrimination from parents and Jewish groups.

Witnesses told Israeli media the group was told to stop singing in Hebrew. Vueling said they were removed for “highly disruptive behavior” that put the flight at risk. The airline denied any link to religion.

Spain has stepped up its criticism of Israel, urging an arms embargo and suspension of its trade deal. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Israel of genocide in Gaza and while pro-Palestinian protests have swept Spanish cities.

Tourists Blocked

Greek and Israeli officials condemned an incident in which pro‑Palestinian protesters on the island of Syros prevented more than a thousand Israeli tourists from disembarking from a cruise ship.

Protesters on Syros demanded a stop to the “destruction from the genocidal war” in Gaza and criticized Greece’s growing ties with Israel but said their actions were political, not religious in nature, according to a statement published by The Guardian.

Greece was among dozens of European countries that issued a statement this week criticizing Israel’s aid distribution model in the strip and opposing its settlement plans in the West Bank.

Belgium Arrests

The European Jewish Association accused Belgian authorities of “a politically motivated” move after two Israeli soldiers were briefly detained and questioned over alleged war crimes while vacationing in the country.

The incident comes amid growing concern from Jewish leaders, who accuse Belgian institutions of enabling antisemitism—citing a government-backed “Resistance Festival” they say glorified Hamas, and police raids on mohels as a threat to religious life.

Belgium has adopted a firmer stance on Gaza, supporting sanctions on Israel. King Philippe described abuses in Gaza as a “disgrace to humanity” on Monday, according to Reuters.

Paris Incident

In May, five Jewish sites in Paris—including the Holocaust museum, three synagogues, and a restaurant—were vandalized with green paint overnight, according to Reuters, in an act deemed “despicable” by France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Israeli President Isaac Herzog urged French authorities to protect the Jewish community from “hatred and attacks.”

The incident, condemned as antisemitic, comes amid rising hate crimes in France, with police reporting an 11% increase in racist or antireligious offenses last year, though without detailing the religious breakdown, the report added.

A worker cleans the defaced with green paint Synagogue des Tournelles after several Jewish sites across the capital were defaced with green paint. Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Paris.
A worker cleans the defaced with green paint Synagogue des Tournelles after several Jewish sites across the capital were defaced with green paint. Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Paris.
Aurelien Morissard/AP Photo
Tensions in UK

Around the same time, The Community Security Trust, a Jewish community organization in Britain condemned an “appalling racist assault” after three Jewish teenagers were attacked and robbed at Hampstead Tube station in London. British Transport Police are treating the incident as “racially aggravated,” according to the BBC. The UK has recently witnessed a series of such assaults, vandalism, and security threats.

In June, the BBC came under fire after airing the Glastonbury Festival performance in which punk duo Bob Vylan led chants of “Death to the IDF,” with Israeli officials describing it as “hateful” and “inflammatory,” and the BBC apologizing over broadcasting “antisemitic sentiments.”

What People Are Saying

Israel Minister of Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli wrote on X: “The @vueling airline crew said that Israel is a terrorist state and forced the children off the aircraft; they are now in Valencia, waiting to return to France.In line with Hamas’s campaign of lies echoed by Al Jazeera, Haaretz, and others, we are seeing numerous severe antisemitic incidents recently; this is one of the most serious.”

Greece’s government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis told Greek Media: “Antisemitism and any form of fascism and racism will not be tolerated in Greece. Our country – and this is a message we must send to the authorities and to everyone, who in general are doing their jobs very well – will not allow racist behaviour.”

Itamar Mann and Lihi Yona, associate law professors at Haifa University wrote in an opinion for The Guardianin March: “On the other hand, many critics of Israel and of Zionism argue against this conflation and in favor of their right to support the Palestinian struggle. For them, labeling anti-Israel positions as antisemitic is a way to silence dissenting opinions and to prevent an honest discussion of Israel’s actions in Gaza.”

What Happens Next

European countries are backing U.S.-led mediation efforts to reach a Gaza ceasefire, but anger against Israel runs strong in many European countries and that is being intensified by the images emerging from the Gaza Strip as Israel continues its war against Hamas.