Amidst the escalating conflict in Gaza, statements made by the Danish-Israeli violinist and conductor, Jonathan Ofir, have garnered attention. At a large pro-Palestinian demonstration last Saturday, where Ofir participated, he drew parallels between the current situation in Gaza and the Holocaust. Ofir, whose great-grandparents perished in the Nazi concentration camps, argues that Palestinians have the right to resist. “What is happening in Gaza now can be compared to the Holocaust,” said Ofir during the demonstration. He referenced the American-Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa, who describes the situation in Gaza as worse than what the media conveys. “It is a holocaust,” stated Ofir, who often participates in pro-Palestinian demonstrations under the banner of ‘Jews against genocide.’ Ofir emphasized that even though the number of casualties and methods are not identical to the Holocaust, there is still a basis for comparison. He pointed out that the Holocaust also had different phases and did not begin with gas chambers. During his speech, Ofir drew historical parallels to resistance movements during World War II, such as the uprising in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1943, where Jews armed themselves against the Nazis. He criticized the current condemnation of any form of Palestinian resistance, which he believes lacks the same understanding and legitimacy that previous resistance movements have enjoyed.
When asked about his stance on Hamas, Ofir responded that he does not distance himself from Hamas as a whole, but from specific acts that could be considered war crimes. He stressed the importance of distinguishing between the organization as a whole and individual actions. The conflict between Israel and Hamas has intensified since October 7th last year, when Hamas carried out an attack resulting in over 1100 deaths and around 250 kidnapped. According to Hamas-controlled health authorities, over 34,000 people have lost their lives as a result of Israel’s counteroffensive. This comparison and Ofir’s participation in the demonstration have sparked debate on how we understand and respond to conflicts and resistance movements in today’s geopolitical landscape.