Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni condemned the desecration.Image: keystone
Unidentified people have destroyed several graves at a Jewish cemetery in Barcelona. A photo provided by the city’s Jewish community showed broken stone name plates and damaged surrounds at several grave sites. No one initially claimed responsibility for the crime, which was discovered on Saturday.
January 25, 2026, 6:12 p.mJanuary 25, 2026, 6:12 p.m
Destroyed Jewish graves in Barcelona. Image: Jewish Community of Barcelona
The Israeli Foreign Ministry accused the Spanish government of saying the “heinous act” was the result of “the Sánchez government’s anti-Israel campaign.” Anti-Semitism must never be normalized and must be firmly rejected throughout society.
Barcelona Mayor Jaume Collboni condemned the desecration. “Hate has no place in a pluralistic, respectful Barcelona,” he said. He assured the Jewish community of his support and emphasized that the city council was working to identify those responsible, as the Europa Press news agency reported.
Some graves were almost completely destroyed.Image: Jewish Community of Barcelona
In Spain there was great outrage over the Israeli army’s harsh crackdown in the Gaza Strip, which left more than 67,000 dead. The country has imposed an arms embargo on Israel and issued entry bans on ultra-right members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. The left-wing head of government Pedro Sánchez accuses Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
The Gaza War was triggered by the massacre by the Islamist Hamas and other extremists from the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023 in Israel, with around 1,200 dead and 250 abducted. (sda/dpa)