Lyon mayor condemns ‘Free Gaza’ defacement of Holocaust memorial

Mayor says city stands firm against antisemitism after message scratched into black marble memorial

A Holocaust memorial unveiled only eight months ago in the French city of Lyon has been inscribed with the words Free Gaza", local officials said, amid growing concern about antisemitic incidents in France.

The words were scratched into the black marble memorial late on Saturday, the city's mayor, Gregory Doucet, said. Yonathan Arfi, of the Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), posted a photo on social media and called the incident despicable".