Holocaust Remembrance Day observed with events and protests in Poland, the UK, and Belgium, highlighting rising tensions and calls for solidarity with Palestine amidst a backdrop of commemorating historical atrocities.
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, protestors disrupted the March of the Living event at Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, where Holocaust survivors and participants were gathered. The pro-Palestinian demonstrators displayed banners and chanted near the death camp, leading to a tense exchange as march participants responded by singing ‘Am Israel chai.’ The incident took place amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, particularly due to military activities in Gaza involving Israeli forces. Local authorities in Poland have not yet formally addressed the situation.
In a separate event related to Holocaust Remembrance Day, a candlelight vigil in London’s Victoria Tower Gardens featured Holocaust survivors lighting six yellow candles. Among them, Bronia Snow shared her experience from the Kindertransport, which rescued approximately 10,000 children from Nazi territories. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis spoke at the event, pointing out the rise of antisemitism and the importance of learning from the Holocaust.
The March of the Living in Poland involved a symbolic walk from Auschwitz to Birkenau and included various remembrance activities such as a two-minute siren and reading of victims’ names. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke about overcoming threats akin to those faced during the Holocaust. This year, a single yellow chair was left vacant in Israel to symbolize those held hostage in Gaza.
Furthermore, student activism related to the Middle East conflict was evident in Belgium and the UK. At Ghent University, Belgium, over 100 students occupied a university building, demanding both climate action and the severance of ties with Israeli institutions linked to the military. They conducted workshops addressing genocide and climate change.
In the UK, students at several universities, including Oxford and Cambridge, staged pro-Palestine occupations, requesting divestment from companies linked to Israel and an end to institutional relationships with Israeli universities. The protests are part of a wider movement calling for solidarity with Palestine and have included fundraising and rallies to support their cause.
