A group of anti-Israel activists staged a grotesque spectacle at Union Station in Washington, DC, on Thursday, resurrecting one of the oldest and deadliest antisemitic myths: the blood libel.
The display revived the violent medieval imagery that justified the murder of Jews for centuries and repackaged it as “anti-Zionism” to disguise what it was from the start: antisemitism, plain and simple.
A Performance Built on Dehumanization
The group arranged a table covered with blue Stars of David smeared with red liquid. Actors wearing masks of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. President Joe Biden, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and former U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken pretended to drink blood from wine glasses. They bit into fake limbs and piles of fake organs, wiped the red liquid off their faces with Israeli flags, and posed for the cameras.
A large printed menu titled “Israel’s Friendsgiving Dinner” listed items such as “Gaza children’s limbs,” “stolen organs,” and “Gaza’s spilled blood.” Each phrase revived and updated classic antisemitic conspiracies designed to portray Jews as monstrous and inhuman. The page ended with Netanyahu’s name and a heart symbol, emphasizing the deliberate intent to shock and degrade.
Outside union station-Washington DC. 10-20-25. Israel Friendsgiving dinner pic.twitter.com/pVFGKAkuHo
— Ounka (@OunkaOnX) November 21, 2025
Outside the station, the American capital’s main rail terminal, another scene showed the Netanyahu actor pulling U.S. political figures on leashes. The actors barked and crawled on command, echoing imagery long used to promote conspiracies of Jewish control over world affairs.
Jewish organizations across the region denounced the spectacle and identified it as an unmistakable act of antisemitic incitement.
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The Blood Libel’s Deadly Legacy
The blood libel emerged in 12th-century England and spread across Europe for centuries. Each accusation triggered pogroms, expulsions, torture, and public executions. The lie later became a pillar of Nazi propaganda, helping justify the state-sponsored annihilation of European Jewry and paving the way for the murder of six million Jews.
This history matters because the blood libel has never remained a medieval myth. It has reappeared in many periods and places, often with deadly consequences.
Swapping the word “Jews” for “Israelis” or “Zionists” does not make the accusation less antisemitic. It simply disguises the same lie in new language.
The IHRA Definition Makes Reality Impossible to Ignore
The performance at Union Station was a textbook example of antisemitism as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism. The definition recognizes that classic antisemitic myths can be repackaged by replacing “Jews” with “Israel,” “Israelis,” or “Zionists.”
The display relied on imagery that has historically sparked massacres and was designed to portray Jews as blood-drinking monsters. According to the IHRA definition, this crosses a clear line. It is not criticism of Israeli policy — it is the demonization of Jews.
A Moment That Demands Clarity, Not Excuses
This display should serve as a warning. When activists revive fantasies that once justified the murder of Jews, they signal their intent. There is no ambiguity in blood libel imagery. There is no gray zone in claims that Jews drink blood or consume body parts. These accusations have always been calls to harm Jews, and every society that tolerated them eventually saw violence follow.
The IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism provides a framework for identifying these moments before they escalate. It gives institutions a clear standard for understanding how hatred evolves and how quickly it spreads when left unchallenged.
The scene at Union Station did not highlight a political dispute. It revealed how easily an ancient hatred can resurface when left unchecked. Recognizing it for what it is — without hesitation or excuses — is the first step in ensuring it cannot take root again.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
