Claudine (pseudonym), a content creator from France, has discovered a powerful and innovative approach to expressing her views in public spaces: under cover of darkness, she transforms pro-Hamas and pro-Palestinian graffiti into messages supporting hostage return and French values of liberty. "I'm fighting for our freedom," she declares, "public spaces belong to everyone, not to extremists."
Growing up in the southern suburbs of Paris, Claudine was immersed in a multicultural environment where Jews, Muslims, Christians, and secular individuals coexisted against a predominantly leftist political backdrop. Born to a Jewish father who escaped Tunisia in 1960 and a non-Jewish French mother, she was raised with strong principles of liberty and equality, though she identifies as a "secular French Jew."
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In the aftermath of the Oct. 7 attack, she made a pivotal decision to revisit her graffiti roots with a new mission. "I began with massive graffiti declaring 'HAMAS RAPE' and 'FUCK HAMAS,'" she reveals. Since then, her nighttime missions involve locating anti-Israel graffiti such as "Free Gaza" and "Death to Israel," which she transforms into messages advocating for hostage return, accompanied by French flags.
Her activism has created ripples within the French hip-hop community where she belongs, which she estimates is 90% pro-Palestinian. "They despise me for utilizing tools they considered their exclusive domain," she notes, "but that doesn't faze me. I avoid confrontation, violence, or arguments – I simply take action."
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When Claudine started sharing her activities on social media in July 2024 with the message "everyone can act," she initially faced pushback from the Jewish community, concerned about potential antisemitic backlash. Yet gradually, both Jewish and non-Jewish supporters reached out with gratitude and offers to join her cause. "I'm not leading a group, but sparking a movement," she emphasizes. Now, she receives documentation of similar actions from throughout France and neighboring countries including Germany, Luxembourg, and England.
Roughly two months ago, she expanded her presence to TikTok, despite facing platform restrictions. "I persist there because I succeed in frustrating antisemites and pro-Palestinians, and I absolutely love it!" she says with a knowing smile.
Looking ahead, Claudine anticipates heightened political and racial tensions across Europe, especially in France. "French society cannot accept neighborhoods dominated by women in full cover," she observes, "France's secular identity is fundamental to our national character." Nevertheless, she has grown skeptical about change emerging from within Muslim communities. "While I wish they would stand up against Islamists and champion equality, I've abandoned that hope."
