UK antisemitic incidents up by 581% since outbreak of Israel-Gaza war, Jewish security group say

The government has increased policing around Jewish institutions. Credit: PA

Antisemitic incidents in the UK have increased by 581% since Hamas’ attack on Israel, according to a Jewish security group as the fallout from a flare-up of violence in the Middle East is felt in the UK.

The Community Security Trust (CST), which represents British Jews on issues of racism and policing, said it had recorded 320 antisemitic incidents between October 7 and 16, a sevenfold increase on the 47 antisemitic incidents recorded over the same period last year.

CST said 15 of the 320 incidents recorded were assaults, 14 referred to damage to Jewish property and 244 were related to abusive behaviour, with 86 taking place online.

Meanwhile, Tell Mama UK reported a tripling of anti-Muslim cases being recorded since hostilities since Hamas killed more than 1,400 Israelis in a terror attack on southern Israel on October 7.

Gravestones damaged in what police call 'hate-crime' at a Jewish cemetery

Examples of antisemitic incidents included a threat made over the phone to a kosher shop in Liverpool, saying “we are coming to get you”.

“Free Palestine, kill Jews” was shouted at the heart of a Jewish community in London.

Two Jewish schools in north London were vandalised with red paint in what has been called “a disgraceful attempt to intimidate and harass” the community by Dave Rich, director of policy at CST.

Shomrim Stamford Hill said one school was targeted on Thursday and a second on Monday morning, as it tweeted CCTV footage of a masked figure spraying paint on the outside of the buildings.

In a blog post on Monday, CST said: “These are all instances of anti-Jewish racism, wherein offenders are targeting Jewish people, communities and institutions for their Jewishness.

“In many cases, these hateful comments, threats to life and physical attacks are laced with the language and symbols of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel politics.

“Even compared to periods of previous conflicts involving Israel, these statistics are unprecedentedly high.

“The last time a significant spike in antisemitism related to events in the Middle East was recorded occurred in May 2021.

Vandalism at Shomrim Stamford Hill included red paint being thrown at doors and gates. Credit: The Community Security Trust

“During the first 10 days of that escalation in violence, 298 antisemitic incidents were reported to CST. Across the first 10 days of the conflict in July 2014, we recorded 82.

Since the outbreak of the conflict in Israel the government has stepped up protection for Jewish institutions, especially in London.

Last week Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced £3 million to be given to the group to protect Jewish people and buildings.

Number 10 said it will enable the CST to place additional guards at schools it supports and allow for additional security staff outside synagogues on Friday nights and Saturday mornings when Jews are marking the sabbath.

The Jewish security group added: “CST will not stand for this anti-Jewish hatred and nor should anybody else.

“We urge everyone who experiences or witnesses antisemitism to report it to police and to CST so that those who are trying to intimidate and threaten our community can be investigated, arrested and prosecuted.”

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