Madrid museum launches investigation after women ejected for wearing Jewish symbols
Reina Sofia Museum pledges commitment to 'zero tolerance' for 'discrimination related to antisemitism' and stresses 'importance of Jewish artists, patrons and benefactors'
An art museum in Madrid has asked its security department to “immediately launch an independent and transparent internal investigation to clarify what happened” after three elderly Israeli women were forcibly expelled for displaying Jewish symbols, including a Star of David necklace and Israeli flag.
Spanish media initially reported that other visitors to the Reina Sofia Museum reacted angrily to the presence of the women, one of whom is believed to a 91-year old Holocaust survivor. The elderly ladies were met with insults, including the accusation that they were “crazy child killers”, “murderers” and “genocidal maniacs”.
An armed guard, instead of protecting the women, reportedly made them leave the premises, rather than those who were verbally abusing them.
Responding to Jewish News on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the museum said:
“With regard to the video posted about the incident involving three visitors carrying Israeli flags and Stars of David last weekend, the museum has asked its security department to immediately launch an independent and transparent internal investigation to clarify what happened.
“Furthermore, the Museum wishes to unequivocally express its commitment to equality, religious freedom and zero tolerance for any type of violence or discrimination related to antisemitism. The Museum’s staff is highly qualified in fundamental rights, conflict management and the prevention of any type of discrimination.
“Once again, we would like to highlight the importance that Jewish artists, patrons and benefactors have had for the institution and its collection, especially in the avant-garde, without whose selfless collaboration the Museum as we know it today would be inconceivable. For all these reasons, we will not rest until the unfortunate events that have taken place are clarified.”
Spanish-based Israel advocacy organisation, The Action and Communication on the Middle East (ACOM) group, announced on Monday that it intended to begin legal action against the Museum “for discrimination and possible promotion of hatred from a public institution”.
It added that Sunday’s incident was part of “a repeated pattern of political instrumentalisation, indirect discrimination, and possible promotion of narratives of hatred toward the State of Israel and the Jewish-Israeli community from a public institution funded by all Spanish taxpayers.”
In May 2025, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez, called Israel a “genocidal state.”
Posting on Twitter/X on Monday 16th February, Israel’s ambassador to Spain, Dana Ehrlich, wrote: “This weekend we have seen how three Jewish women, wearing a Star of David and an Israeli flag, were ejected from a museum in Madrid for bearing those symbols.
“My flag is not a provocation. My flag represents thousands of years of the Jewish people’s history. My flag represents the State of Israel. It is hypocrisy that other flags and displays of disinformation are accepted without issue in that museum, while my flag, our flag, is deemed provocative.”
The Israel Foreign Ministry, posting on Tuesday 17th February, condemned the institution, writing: “Shame on Reina Sofía National Museum of Art. 3 Israeli tourists, including a holocaust survivor, were expelled for wearing Jewish symbols. They were harassed, and instead of being protected, they were kicked out. If a Jewish symbol is controversial in Europe, we have learned nothing. The antisemitic employee involved must be held accountable.”
In 2024, the Museum presented an exhibition titled “From the River to the Sea” in solidarity with Palestinians, later changed to ‘Critical Thinking Gatherings, International Solidarity With Palestine’ following outrage from the Israeli embassy and the Jewish community.
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