French Prosecutor Investigates Anti-Semitic Chants in Paris Metro

The French prosecutor opened an investigation on Wednesday into a video showing a group of young people chanting anti-Semitic slogans amid rising anti-Semitic sentiments following Hamas' attack on Israel and the subsequent Israeli bombardment of Gaza. French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin stated late Tuesday that over 850 anti-Semitic incidents have occurred since the Hamas attack, nearly double the number recorded for all of 2022. The circulated video on social media shows a group of young people in the metro chanting. The young people, whose faces were not visible in the video, shouted, "Damn the Jews and damn your mothers, long live Palestine." They also added, "We are Nazis and we are proud of it." Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez stated on X that these are "shocking, unacceptable, and worthless comments," adding that all necessary measures will be taken to identify the participants in these chants, while Transport Minister Clément Beaune stated that the government will be firm. Prosecutors have also opened an investigation into a series of blue Star of David graffiti on walls in Paris and other locations.