A case of antisemitism in Fléron, Belgium

On the morning of the 2nd of April 2024, in the town of Fléron, close to Liège (Belgium), a Jewish family woke up to horrific news. Their house had been vandalised with graffiti “Free Gaza” and a swastika.  

This abominable incident is a direct consequence of the importation of the Israel-Gaza conflict in the Western world. Since Israel’s response after the attack on the 7th of October 2023, Belgium has witnessed a high rise of antisemitism all over the country.  Houses have been vandalised, people insulted and sometimes even harassed. Many Jewish people don’t feel safe in their country anymore. Sadly, this has become a new standard in many other countries worldwide.  

This event is not only dreadful due to its overt antisemitic nature; it also starkly illustrates the ongoing level of hate and discrimination experienced by Jewish communities. Jewish people all over the world are held responsible for what the Israel Defence Forces undertake in Gaza. Unfortunately, it is common that Jews and Israelis are seen as one people. Moreover, there has been a recent surge in violence at many rallies, with Jewish individuals often requiring extraction from protests due to security concerns.   

Screenshot of CCOJB post on X

This incident that took place in Fléron was relayed by most local newspapers as well as by the CCOJB, the Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organisations in Belgium. In a post published on social network X, the CCOJB condemned the incident and asked for “a strong and non-ambiguous response”, which is a legitimate demand. Antisemitism needs to be banned from everywhere, including social media. 

However, this specific post on X was subject to a lot of virulent reactions, showing once again the surge of antisemitism and hate speech online. Among the comments, the recurring notion of "there is no smoke without fire" was evident.  As if, after all, the victims of the incident deserved what happened to them, as a consequence of the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza. Other comments mentioned the fact that the graffiti was probably an act of Jews themselves, in a way to victimise themselves and at the same time, blame the enemy. In any case, these reactions are totally outrageous and extremely harmful. 

GTTO works to combat anti-religious discrimination in the online and offline European media landscape promoting accurate and nuanced reporting, whilst advocating for diversity, plurality and freedom of speech. GTTO was terribly shocked about the event that took place in Fléron on April 2nd, 2024, and the reaction of the public.  

GTTO urges social media platforms to take decisive action against the proliferation of hate speech online, which should not be so easily disseminated without provisions in place. It is imperative to remind all, including social media platforms, that antisemitism is not only unlawful but also needs to be completely eradicated from our society, alongside all forms of discrimination and hate speech on religious grounds. Together, we must stand against all forms of intolerance, working towards a world where everyone is equal and free from discrimination and hate. 

This article was written by EUJS, Get the Trolls Out! partner in Belgium.