May 17, 2025
A memorial in Brighton, southeastern England, honoring the victims of the Hamas-led massacre in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, has been vandalized yet again—marking over 40 separate attacks on the site since its creation. Located in Palmeira Square and maintained by the local Jewish community, the memorial was discovered on Wednesday afternoon with pages containing victims' photos torn out and scattered across the pavement. Witnesses believe the act of desecration took place between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., and Sussex County Police have launched an investigation. Volunteer Heidi Bachram described the scene as "evil unhinged," emphasizing that the memorial is apolitical and exists solely to honor the memory of those murdered.
Despite the repeated attacks, the community has remained steadfast. Each night since the tragedy, they’ve held a vigil at the site, telling the story of a different victim. On the day of the most recent vandalism, the vigil honored 88-year-old Chana Kritzman, who died from injuries inflicted during the October 7 attack. Support has quickly poured in, with more than £1,500 raised in a single day via a GoFundMe campaign to preserve and expand the memorial. The Board of Deputies of British Jews strongly condemned the desecration and called for justice, standing in solidarity with the Brighton & Hove Jewish community. This incident comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic crimes across the UK, with 2024 marking the second-worst year on record despite a slight drop from 2023’s all-time high. The Community Security Trust documented thousands of antisemitic acts, including assaults, threats, and property damage—an alarming reflection of growing hostility toward Jewish communities.
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SOURCE: The Algemeiner