Thousands march in Brussels against anti-Semitism

Thousands of people marched to the streets of Brussels on Sunday to condemn anti-Semitism, which has been on the rise in Europe as a result of Israel’s conflict with the militant group Hamas.

The European Commission has issued a warning to European Jews, citing an increase in anti-Semitic acts across Europe.

Around 4,000 people marched in Brussels, according to police, with some holding posters that read, “You don’t have to be Jewish to march against anti-Semitism.”

“An old evil is resurfacing in Europe,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen during an event to light one of the candles of a Hanukkah menorah in front of the Commission and European Council headquarters in Brussels.

“Swastikas have been painted on the homes of Jews. Synagogues have been vandalised. Jewish children have been locked in their schools because the streets are not safe for them. This is horrific. And it is painful,” von der Leyen said.

“There should be no place for this hatred, especially here in Europe. And there is no justification to the rise in anti-Semitism. No war, no political argument, can excuse it,” she said.

“This moment of celebration must also be one to say that never again will we tolerate hate against Jewish people,” von der Leyen said.

She went on to say that the EU would develop a new award to honour Jewish cultural heritage.

The EU Commission has already announced a slew of measures to combat growing hate speech and crime, including increased support for religious institutions.

According to Israeli sources, Hamas militants from Gaza launched an unprecedented onslaught on October 7, killing around 1,200 persons, predominantly civilians, and taking approximately 240 hostages.

In response, Israel’s government threatened to destroy Hamas with a military onslaught that has left much of Gaza in ruins and killed at least 17,997 people, the vast majority of them were women and children, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.