Defaced mural of October 7 survivor a sign of rising antisemitism in Italy

Incidences of antisemitism have increased to about 80 or 90 a week in the last year, from about 30 a week before

MILAN — The vandalism Monday of a mural depicting a survivor of last year’s October 7 Hamas attacks that killed some 1,200 people in Israel is an example of rising antisemitism in Italy over the last year, according to the Antisemitism Observatory in Milan.

Incidence of antisemitism has increased to about 80 or 90 a week in the last year, from about 30 a week before, said Stefano Gatti, a researcher at the observatory. He called the increase “overpowering.”