Several gravestones were desecrated at the Jewish cemetery in the Les Corts neighborhood of Barcelona. The city’s Jewish community reported Sunday afternoon that a number of headstones were smashed and vandalized by unknown individuals.
Photos taken by the Jewish community at the cemetery show shattered graves, headstones torn from their place and extensive damage to the site.
The Jewish community in Barcelona accused the state of inaction in addressing incitement against Jews, particularly since the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack by Hamas. In a statement, the community said: "We have seen how, at demonstrations, online and on the street, hate speech against Jews became routine. Then signs appeared across the city. Later, posters were hung on public buildings with slogans. After that, a map was published marking Jewish targets, including a school. And now, the desecration of graves. This is not random. This is an escalation. From slogans to marking. From marking to threats. And from threats to action."
Israel’s Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem strongly condemned the incident. "We condemn the desecration of the Jewish cemetery in Barcelona. This despicable act is the result of an anti-Israeli campaign by the Sanchez government. We stand with the Jewish community in Spain. The normalization of antisemitism must not be allowed and must be firmly rejected in all societies," the ministry said.
Dana Erlich, Israel’s chargé d’affaires in Spain, issued a statement in Spanish and Catalan: "Antisemitism, in any form, cannot be explained or tolerated under any circumstances. The fight against hatred and intolerance is the responsibility of society as a whole, not only of Jews."
The European Jewish Congress also released a condemnation, saying: "We strongly condemn the vandalism of Jewish graves at a cemetery in Barcelona. What we are seeing is not an isolated incident. It is part of a broader escalation that begins with words, continues with harassment and intimidation and ends with acts like this. When hatred is normalized in public discourse, the step toward physical action becomes smaller. We stand in full solidarity with the Barcelona community and trust that the authorities will act decisively to investigate these acts and prevent further escalation."
First published: 16:32, 01.25.26