An olive tree planted in Saint-Genis-Laval, near Lyon, in memory of Ilan Halimi—a young French Jew who was kidnapped and tortured to death in 2006—was found partially sawn over the weekend, according to the town’s mayor. The tree had been planted in September 2025 at Villa Chapuis Park as a tribute to Halimi, who was murdered by a group calling themselves the “Gang of Barbarians.”
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the act as antisemitic and vowed to identify those responsible. Regional prefect Fabienne Buccio also denounced the incident as a “heinous act of hate” and confirmed that an investigation has been opened.
A similar incident occurred in August 2025 in Épinay-sur-Seine, where another tree planted in Ilan Halimi’s memory was cut down. Two brothers were convicted, though the court did not recognize the act as antisemitic—an appeal is pending.
