Pro-Palestinian Protesters in Stockholm Compare Gaza to Auschwitz Without Police Intervention
Over the weekend, pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through central Stockholm carrying a display resembling the entrance gate to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Instead of the original inscription "Arbeit macht frei" (Work sets you free), the sign read "GAZA," drawing criticism for equating Israel with Nazi Germany. Some protesters wore healthcare worker uniforms from the Stockholm region. Leading the march was a figure dressed as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with a bloodied face, holding an Israeli flag alongside symbols resembling Nazi insignia.
The protesters also demanded the release of Dr. Hossam Abu Sbeih, who is held by Israel on allegations of being a senior Hamas commander. According to reports, the demonstration proceeded without police interference despite the provocative imagery. Concurrently, anti-Israel activist Greta Thunberg faced criticism after sharing a poster claiming Israel is "building concentration camps in Gaza," part of a campaign comparing Israel to Nazi Germany.
Jewish-Swedish journalist Daniel Schatz, a grandson of Holocaust survivors, condemned the display, stating he felt "nauseated" seeing the word "Gaza" styled like the Auschwitz gate sign. He emphasized that such Holocaust trivialization and comparisons meet the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism, which Sweden has officially adopted. Schatz expressed concern that these acts occur openly in Swedish streets without any visible objection or response from authorities.
