Israelis Denied Entry to Italian Hotel Due to Alleged Participation in Genocide
Two Israelis had their hotel reservation revoked the day before their trip, adding to a series of incidents in Europe related to the Gaza war.
An Israeli couple was denied entry to an Italian hotel where they had booked a stay, with the manager accusing Israelis of “genocide.”
A Jewish organization in Venice reported the incident on Nov. 14.
The couple had reserved two nights in early November at the Hotel Garni Ongaro in Selva di Cadore, a mountain village near Cortina d’Ampezzo, through an online booking platform.
A day before their departure, they received a message from the hotel staff stating, “Good morning. We inform you that Israeli people, as those responsible for genocide, are not welcome customers in our establishment.”
The hotel manager then offered them free cancellation of their reservation.
The governor of the Veneto region condemned the incident as “extremely serious.”
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“I feel deeply disturbed and I’m shocked by what has happened,” said Luca Zaia. “Veneto must guarantee its doors are open to all.”
Italy has seen an increase in anti-Semitic incidents, with about 80 to 90 per week over the past year compared to 30 per week before, according to the Anti-Semitism Observatory in Milan.
In October, a mural in Milan depicting a survivor of a Hamas attack was vandalized.
These incidents are part of a broader trend in Europe where Israelis and Jews face hostility due to the Gaza war.
As of now, 43,000 Gazans have been killed, with the Israeli army reporting that almost half were Hamas members.
Israeli soccer fans were attacked in Amsterdam after a game, resulting in riots that injured at least five people and led to 62 arrests.
The Israeli army sent planes to evacuate Israelis who wanted to leave The Netherlands.
Israeli fans were ambushed outside the stadium and across the city.
Some were thrown into canals, stabbed, or had their cars rammed, and their belongings stolen.
Others were trapped in hotels or turned away from businesses when seeking refuge.
The Israeli media referred to the violence as a “pogrom” and criticized some outlets for downplaying it as typical fan violence.
Tear gas rises as protesters clash with French Gendarmes during a rally organized by political parties against the “Israel is Forever” gala in Paris, on Nov. 13, 2024. Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images
Three days later, dozens of rioters clashed with police, setting a tram car on fire and breaking windows while shouting anti-Semitic remarks.
France deployed double the usual number of police officers for the match.
The game garnered more attention with French President Emmanuel Macron attending to show solidarity after the Amsterdam incident that occurred after the match between Ajax and Maccabi Tel Aviv.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
