Anne Frank statue in Amsterdam

The statue of Anne Frank in Amsterdam has been vandalized for the second time in less than a month, this time with pro-Palestinian graffiti that included the slogan 'Free Gaza' and red paint on the statue's hands. The recent defacement, which likely occurred overnight, has prompted a police investigation, although no suspects have been identified. Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who died in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II, is a significant figure in Dutch history, and her diary serves as a powerful account of the Holocaust. Following a previous incident of vandalism on July 9, the municipality had increased protections for the statue, including video surveillance. Mayor Femke Halsema condemned the act, stating that it does not help the Palestinian cause and expressed outrage over the targeting of such a meaningful memorial. The ongoing rise in anti-Semitic incidents globally has been linked to the escalation of violence in Gaza since the October 7 attacks by Hamas.