Overview
- The Beth Michael Synagogue in Monteverde was found spray-painted, and the plaque honoring two-year-old Stefano Gaj Taché was defaced.
- Graffiti included the phrases “Free Palestine” and “Monteverde anti-Zionist and anti-fascist,” according to local reports.
- Police opened an investigation and are following leads after surveillance cameras captured two masked individuals near the site.
- Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri condemned the act as despicable and directed immediate restoration of the memorial.
- Italian leaders and Jewish organizations, including Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, President Sergio Mattarella, and the European Jewish Congress, condemned the desecration, citing a broader rise in antisemitic incidents in Italy.