Anti-Semitic incidents in Germany double following Hamas attack on Israel

The number of anti-Semitic offences in Germany has doubled following the Hamas attack on Israel, according to a statement from the country's Interior Ministry.

Since the Hamas terror attack on October 7, 2023, police have reported a significant increase in anti-Semitic incidents, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

While approximately 1,600 offences were recorded in 2023 up to October, that number surged to over 3,200 from January to October 2024.

Germany's Commissioner for the Fight Against Anti-Semitism, Felix Klein, described the situation as a "tsunami of anti-Semitism" since the October attack, noting that the rise of "open and aggressive anti-Semitism in all its forms" is stronger now than at any time since 1945, both in Germany and globally.

Klein highlighted that the October 7 attack led to significant breaches in societal defences against prejudice, resulting in the deaths of more Jews than at any time since the Holocaust. In 2023, approximately 5,000 anti-Semitic incidents were recorded, with half occurring after the October attack.

He noted that while traditional right-wing anti-Semitism remains prevalent, there is also a notable increase in anti-Semitism within left-wing and Islamist groups, indicating troubling alliances among different factions.

In the United Kingdom, anti-Semitic incidents have also surged since Israel began its response to the Hamas-led attack. The Community Security Trust (CST) reported a record high of 5,583 anti-Semitic incidents in the UK between October 7, 2023, and September 30, 2024 — the highest annual total since the charity began tracking in 1984.

The October 7 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,205 individuals in Israel, predominantly civilians, according to official figures.

By Tamilla Hasanova