55 Jewish survivors of the Holocaust were among over six thousand people who took part in the March of the Living this year. It's an educational project, so most of the people who came to Oświęcim were young people of Jewish origin from all over the world. People protesting against the “genocide in Gaza” lined up along the march route.
Another one, but unique because it takes place while a brutal war is going on in the Gaza Strip. This year, 55 Holocaust survivors took part in the March of the Living celebrations.
– We are here to pay tribute to life. To move forward and fight every manifestation of hatred and anti-Semitism, said Nate Leipciger, a former prisoner of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Those who suffered from the attack by Hamas terrorists on October 7 last year also came to Auschwitz.
A handful of pro-Palestinian protesters lined up near the march route
– We are commemorating the first Holocaust, but now we are experiencing the second one. They massacred thousands of people and kidnapped hundreds. The nightmare is repeating itself once again, comments Thomas Hand, a resident of Kibbutz Beri and the father of a person kidnapped by Hamas.
A handful of pro-Palestinian protesters lined up near the march route. – We wanted to say that we have the right to live a normal life. We have the right to live like any other nation in the world. We don't want war. We are not against Jews, said Omar Faris from the Social and Cultural Association of Polish Palestinians.
Pro-Palestinian demonstration next to the March of the Living routeFakty TVN
Participants in the March of the Living expressed their dissatisfaction with the presence of pro-Palestinian demonstrators, shouting and waving flags. – They do it in front of our eyes because we are Jews. It's not about the state of Israel, it's about the Jews, said one of them. The police prevented the two groups from confronting each other.
“Never again” – this slogan has accompanied the March from its very beginning. This time, another one appeared next to it: “bring them home.” Refers to Israeli hostages held by Hamas. This year, the March of the Living was accompanied by unique emotions.
Main photo source: Fakty TVN