In Paris on Sunday, tens of thousands of individuals marched to protest the increasing antisemitism following Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, representatives from various political parties, including far-right leader Marine Le Pen, attended the march amid heightened security.
President Emmanuel Macron, though absent, expressed support for the protest, denouncing the resurgence of antisemitism. The leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, Jean-Luc Melenchon, chose not to attend, describing the march as a gathering of “friends of unconditional support for the massacre” in Gaza.
Approximately 3,000 police officers were deployed along the march route, organized by Senate and National Assembly leaders, due to a significant rise in anti-Jewish incidents in France since the conflict’s initiation on October 7. France, with the largest Jewish population in Europe, grapples with historical scars from World War II collaboration with the Nazis.
More than 1,000 antisemitic acts have been reported across France in the month following the Middle East conflict’s onset. In a letter to the French public, Macron pledged prosecution and punishment for perpetrators, emphasizing the importance of a unified and peaceful country.
While Macron acknowledged his spiritual attendance at the march, he refrained from participating in person, citing his role in building national unity and upholding values. The antisemitic heritage of far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party has faced criticism despite its growing political legitimacy.
Official reports tallied 1,247 antisemitic acts since October 7, nearly triple the number recorded for the entire year of 2022. France has generally prohibited pro-Palestinian demonstrations, although authorized protests have occurred in various cities, including Paris, advocating for a Gaza ceasefire.