French antisemitism watchdog to file complaint over harassment of families at beach

The Jewish Observatory of France (OJF) says it will file a complaint after a man in Deauville, Normandy, shouted antisemitic threats at a group of families at the beach last week.

According to organization, which monitors antisemitism in the country, the man shouted a series of insults and threats, including “Dirty Jews, Jews, there are only Jews here,” then “I’m going to hit them and I’m going to kill them,” and “In the name of Allah I’m going to kill them.”

The OJF, represented by lawyer Julien Bensimhon, will file a complaint in support of one of the victims and will join the proceedings as a civil party, it says.

“These events are not simply a verbal outburst,” OJF says. “They constitute a deliberate act of hatred, a desire to intimidate, and blatant antisemitic violence, uttered in a busy public place, in the presence of children. Such an incident demands a severe, swift, and exemplary legal response.”

Last week, the French Interior Ministry said in a report that antisemitic incidents comprised 53% of all cases of religious hate attacks, despite the fact that Jews make up less than 1% of the country’s population.

⚖️ À Deauville, en présence d’enfants, un individu a crié :
✡️ « Sales juifs »
???? « Je vais les tuer »
☪️ « Au nom d’Allah, je vais les tuer »
L’Observatoire Juif de France (OJF), saisi par la victime, mandate Maître Julien Bensimhon afin de déposer plainte en son nom et de se… pic.twitter.com/l1ZSg1FGEJ

— Observatoire Juif de France (@ObservatoireOjf) May 28, 2026