Britain recorded thousands of antisemitic incidents after the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in October, making 2023 the worst year for UK antisemitism since 1984, when Jewish advisory body CST began recording such data, it said on Thursday.
The number of antisemitic incidents across the country reached 4,103, more than twice the figure in 2022. This surge included threats, hate speech, violence, and damage to Jewish institutions and property.
The CST noted that two-thirds of these incidents occurred on or after October 7, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The CST, which advises Britain’s estimated 280,000 Jews on security matters, said two-thirds of those incidents occurred on or after Oct. 7, when Hamas militants rampaged through southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages.
The conflict has left at least 28,000 Palestinians dead, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, which does not provide a breakdown of combatant deaths.
Surprisingly, initial analysis suggests a celebration of Hamas’ attacks rather than anger at Israel’s military reprisals in Gaza.
A concerning aspect highlighted by the CST was the record 266 cases of violent assaults, another all-time high, with half occurring in areas with significant Jewish communities, including north London and Manchester in northern England.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak granted an extra £3 million ($3.8 million) in funding for the CST last year, emphasizing the government’s commitment to enhancing security at Jewish institutions. London’s Metropolitan Police have also pledged stronger action against hate crimes linked to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Although 31% of the antisemitic incidents recorded last year were online, the CST clarified that the figure was only indicative. The actual volume of anti-Jewish content on online platforms could be significantly higher.
(Inputs from Reuters)