British Jews reported nearly 2,000 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2024, setting a record for a six-month period and marking a 100 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
The Community Security Trust documented 1,978 incidents, reflecting a significant rise in hate and hate crimes against Jews. This surge follows the Hamas-led October 7 attack, which triggered the ongoing conflict in Gaza and intensified fighting between Hezbollah and Israel, according to the semiannual report released on Thursday.
The report’s publication coincided with recent riots across the UK, which Prime Minister Keir Starmer described as characterized by "wanton violence alongside racist rhetoric" targeting Muslims and other minority groups.
The CST noted that most antisemitic incidents appear to be driven by reactions to the Middle Eastern conflict, with perpetrators more likely to be individuals of Muslim or Middle Eastern descent rather than white ultranationalists.
* The Times of Israel contributed to this article.