An olive tree planted in Épinay-sur-Seine as a tribute to Ilan Halimi, a young French Jewish man who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed in 2006 by the "gang des barbares," was deliberately cut down during the night of August 13-14, 2025. This act of vandalism has sparked widespread condemnation across France. François Bayrou denounced the incident as an expression of "antisemitic hatred." President Emmanuel Macron condemned the felling of the memorial tree, stating that it was an attempt to symbolically "kill Ilan Halimi a second time" and affirmed that all measures would be taken to punish those responsible. Macron emphasized that the nation would not forget Halimi, who died because he was Jewish. The incident has reignited national discussions on antisemitism, with various political figures including Éric Ciotti and Olivier Faure expressing their reactions. Some commentators criticized Macron’s response, accusing him of failing to adequately support the Jewish community. Meanwhile, public discourse highlighted concerns about a broader societal crisis of memory and rising antisemitism. In response to the tree's destruction, a viral artistic initiative emerged, promoting hope against antisemitism. A formal complaint has been filed regarding the vandalism.