IHRA Shifts Plenary Session Online Following Iranian Missile Attacks on Israel

June 30, 2025

From June 23–June 26, the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) successfully convened its plenary session online after missile attacks from Iran prevented diplomats and experts from traveling to Jerusalem. This was the first IHRA plenary session scheduled to be held in Israel. The Simon Wiesenthal Center was represented by Dr. Ariel Gelblung, SWC’s Director for Latin America.

The session addressed the impact of rising antisemitism on institutions dedicated to Holocaust memory and the safety of their personnel. The urgency of the current moment which was compounded by a recent double homicide in Washington D.C., led to the approval of an official IHRA statement, available here.

Dr. Gelblung, who played a leading role in securing the declassification of Nazi Archives in Argentina, participated in the Committee on Antisemitism and Holocaust Denial as well as Addressing Antisemitism in Court. Dr. Gelblung highlighted his work behind the scenes of recent, pivotal court rulings in Latin America that establish anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism, underscoring the IHRA Definition as the sole internationally accepted objective standard.

A poignant moment during the plenary arose when an Australian delegate shared her personal experiences with antisemitic attacks in Australian academia. In response, the education group accelerated the development of an innovative program called "Stories of Impact: Combating Antisemitism through Education,” and discussed updating the "Recommendations for Teaching and Learning on Holocaust" in light of the events of October 7.

The plenary concluded with a call for peace and for the release of the 50 hostages still held by Hamas. The IHRA expressed hope for a meeting in Jerusalem in December, which would coincide with Hanukkah and would be the first Plenary Session hosted by in-person in Israel.

For further information, please contact Ariel Gelblung, SWC’s Director for Latin America, at agelblung@wiesenthal.com. You can also stay updated by joining the Center on Facebook or following @simonwiesenthal on Twitter.