Alarming Rise in Antisemitic Incidents in the U.S. Following Hamas Attack on Israel

The United States has seen a disturbing surge in antisemitic incidents over the past year, with more than 10,000 reported cases since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. This marks the highest number of antisemitic hate crimes, insults, bullying, and vandalism ever recorded in a single-year period since tracking began in 1979, according to preliminary data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).

The incidents, which occurred between Oct. 7, 2023, and Sept. 24, 2024, represent a more than 200% increase compared to the same period the year before. Of the reported incidents, over 8,000 were cases of verbal or written harassment, 1,840 involved vandalism, and around 150 were physical assaults. Additionally, approximately 1,200 incidents took place on college campuses, and 2,000 occurred at Jewish institutions.

The rise in antisemitic incidents is part of a broader trend of increased hate crimes, including Islamophobic and anti-Arab incidents, during the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Biden administration has responded to the growing antisemitism with new initiatives aimed at addressing the issue.

Experts warn that the situation is dire for Jewish Americans, with no respite from threats and calls for violence against Israelis and Jews. The data collected by the ADL’s Center on Extremism not only includes hate crimes but also cases of verbal harassment and speeches on college campuses.

This alarming trend is not isolated, as hate crimes across the nation have been on the rise, with anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, and anti-Arab crimes all seeing significant increases. The ADL report comes on the heels of new data showing hate crimes hitting records in major cities, with spikes in antisemitic and anti-Muslim crimes during conflicts in the Middle East.

The situation is concerning for communities across the country, and efforts to combat hate and extremism are more critical than ever. Financial professionals are closely monitoring these developments as they can have wide-ranging implications for society and the economy.