Today marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the Nazi concentration camp where over one million prisoners were murdered. Alongside them, six million Jews perished across Europe in the Holocaust. On this solemn day, the international community remembers the victims, reflecting on the horrors of WWII and the genocide that targeted and decimated Jewish populations.

View of the gate that reads, “Work Sets You Free”, in German, on the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp in Oswiecim, Poland January 27, 2025. Agencja Wyborcza.pl/Grzegorz Celejewski via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS – THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. POLAND OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN POLAND.
In
a statement released Monday, the European Council condemned the resurgence of antisemitism, warning: “Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented increase in antisemitism on our continent, not seen since the Second World War. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the alarming rise in violent antisemitic incidents, Holocaust denial and distortion, as well as conspiracy theories and prejudice against Jews.”
The numbers are stark. Over the past year, antisemitic rhetoric has tripled. Following the October 7 Hamas attacks and the subsequent Israel-Hamas war, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) tabulated 5,204 antisemitic incidents in the US between October 7 and early 2024, spanning assault, vandalism, and harassment.

A police officer inspects graves desecrated by vandals with Nazi swastikas and graffiti on 56 graves and war memorial in a Jewish cemetery in eastern city of Lyon August 10, 2004. More than 300 tombs or graves have been desecrated in France since April. REUTERS/Robert Pratta
Online, both Jewish and Muslim communities face increasing hate. Platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and Instagram have struggled to moderate
evolving forms of digital hate speech, including acronyms and coded hashtags designed to evade filters, such as “TJD” (total Jewish death) and TMD (total Muslim death). While explicit slurs are banned, dehumanizing language, like referring to groups as “animals” or “parasites,” often escapes moderation.
The debate over hate speech versus free speech has only deepened. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently announced plans to
end partnerships with third-party fact-checkers, citing concerns over political bias. Meanwhile, a high-profile clash between Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt and X CTO Elon Musk has underscored the divide. After Musk endorsed a post accusing Jewish communities of anti-white rhetoric while seeking protection from antisemitism,
Greenblatt responded: “At a time when antisemitism is exploding in America and surging around the world, it is indisputably dangerous to use one’s influence to validate and promote antisemitic theories. #NeverIsNow.”
In a recent
EU survey, 80% of respondents reported that antisemitism had worsened in their countries over the past five years (2019–2024). In response, the EU has outlined a three-tiered strategy to combat this rise:
Preventing and combating all forms of antisemitism, both physical and digital.
Protecting and fostering Jewish life, ensuring the safety of Jewish communities.
Promoting education, research, and Holocaust remembrance, to preserve historical truth and prevent future atrocities.
In its statement today, the EU reaffirmed its commitment to the pledge “Never Again,” a phrase that carries renewed urgency amid rising antisemitism. As the world reflects on the Holocaust, the responsibility to prevent history from repeating itself has never been more critical.