Summary:

On 19 April 2024, organizers of the annual Jewish pilgrimage and festival to the Ghriba Synagogue on the island of Djerba announced that the event would be significantly scaled back, with much of the usual festivities cancelled. 

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The event organizers referenced the ongoing war in Gaza as the reason for the cancellation of the event. Organizers indicated that a few pilgrims from France could be expected, but far fewer from the US and Israel. 

In 2023, the event was disrupted by an attack that killed multiple attendees of the event as well as members of Tunisia’s security forces. The attack raised concerns about anti-Semitism and the security of Tunisia’s Jewish population which were amplified following the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel. 

Governments across Europe have raised their terrorism threat levels and have reported a rise in counterterrorism operations linked to individuals and groups seeking to retaliate for Israeli military operations in Gaza. 

Outlook: 

While framed as deferential to those directly suffering due to the war in Gaza, the organizers of the annual Jewish pilgrimage likely perceive a heightened threat to overtly Jewish activities as opposition to Israeli actions in Gaza has risen globally. 

The attack on pilgrims in 2023, as well as the historical security issues around the synagogue likely warrant an abundance of caution in light of heightened global tensions over the war in Gaza.  

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