2023 Djerba shooting

Tunisian President Kais Saied condemned the attack, attributing it to "criminals" aiming to create division and harm the tourism sector. He offered expressed condolences to those affected but did not explicitly mention the targeting of the Jewish community or antisemitism. The incident wasn't labeled as terrorism by the government.[12][18] Authorities worked quickly to reassure tourists about the country's safety.[7] Security around religious sites, including synagogues, was heightened.[19] On May 13, Saied denied the attack being driven by antisemitism, defended laws protecting Jewish rights, and cited his family's history of aiding Tunisian Jews. He criticized double standards in addressing the Palestinian issue and labeled accusations of antisemitism as distortions of history, accusing conspirators against the state.[20][16] On May 17, Saied met religious leaders from various faiths, including the chief rabbi, Christian archbishop, and Muslim mufti, and assured safety for places of worship.[21][22]

The Ministry of the Interior launched an investigation to determine the motive behind the attack. As the incident occurred at a religious event and at a location of significance to the Jewish community, some observers, including several prominent Tunisian Jewish expats, speculated that the shooter may have been specifically targeting the island's Jewish community.[23] Tunisian authorities acknowledge that the suspect had the intention to harm as many people as possible.[18]

The Jewish community in Djerba condemned the decision of Tunisian authorities to move the bodies of the two Jewish civilians killed to Tunis for an autopsy. The victims' families and relatives protested outside the hospital where the bodies were transferred, stating that they were not allowed to honor their traditions by reciting verses from the Torah in respect of those killed. The incident caused unrest among the Tunisian Jewish community, with a few expressing frustration and hopelessness about staying in the country.[24] Concerns were also been raised about the future of the Jewish pilgrimage.[14]

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its condemnation of the killings and extended its condolences to victims' families and the Jewish community in Tunisia while pledging to work towards safeguarding the security of all Israelis who are abroad.[19] Foreign Minister Eli Cohen expressed his sorrow and assured Tunisian Chief Rabbi Haim Bitan that the ministry would continue to support the community and provide whatever assistance is required.[19][25] Israeli Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli stated that according to his office "the incident was preceded by a tense period of shouts and harassment of the Jewish community at the site".[25] According to reporting by The Jerusalem Post, Israeli authorities and the Jewish Agency for Israel had been monitoring a serious threat against the Jewish community in Djerba for several months prior to the attack. The newspaper also reported the existence of a secret plan for massive emigration, but it is unclear whether the Jewish community members in Tunisia were interested in moving to Israel.[26] A senior official at The Jewish Agency denied the existence of such a plan.[7]

The French national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (Parquet national antiterroriste) opened an investigation into the death of the French-Tunisian victim. The investigation was entrusted to the General Directorate for Internal Security. French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his sorrow over the attack on the Ghriba synagogue and conveyed his condolences to the victims and the Tunisian people.[27] He also committed to persisting in the fight "against anti-Semitic hatred".[3] The French Foreign Ministry expressed its deep sadness and paid tribute to the quick intervention of the Tunisian security forces.[25] The Israelite Central Consistory of France also condemned the shooting, describing it as "cowardly and heinous".[27]

The day before the attack, Deborah Lipstadt, U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, participated in a ceremony at the synagogue alongside Tunisian officials and US Ambassador to Tunisia Joey R. Hood. She expressed that she was "sickened and heartbroken by the lethal, antisemitic attack targeting the Ghriba synagogue in Djerba during the Lag B’Omer celebrations".[6] United States Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the shooting, expressed condolences to the Tunisian people, and praised "the rapid action of Tunisian security forces".[28]

The European Jewish Congress expressed its “shock and outrage”. President Ariel Muzicant stated that "terror attacks continue to target Jews around the world even when they are gathered in prayer, as we know from countless experiences over the years including at this very synagogue".[25] Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbise, expressed his gratitude and admiration for the security services and emphasized the need for the world to come together and "loudly condemn yet another cowardly attack on Jews at worship". He later condemned statements made by President Saied on 13 May, and called for European governments to denounce them, expressing concern for the safety of Tunisia's Jewish community.[16]