New York, NY – Antisemitic threats in the United States have tripled in the year following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas in Israel, according to preliminary data from the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
Between October 7, 2023, and September 2024, over 10,000 antisemitic incidents were reported, a significant increase from the 3,325 incidents recorded in the previous year. This surge in threats marks the highest number of incidents monitored by the ADL since tracking began in 1979.
ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt expressed concern over the continuous threats faced by Jewish Americans since the terrorist attack, stating that there has been no respite, with a shocking number of antisemitic threats and calls for violence against Israelis and Jews globally.
In response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, increased patrols have been implemented by police agencies around Jewish and Muslim institutions as a precaution. The rise in hate crimes and bias incidents targeting Jews, Muslims, and Arabs across the US has been noted since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations revealed that 8,061 anti-Muslim bias incidents were reported in 2023, the highest in its 28-year history of tracking hate incidents. ADL urged the public to report incidents and speak up against hate, emphasizing the importance of not living in fear in their own country.
To address growing concerns, the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security issued a public advisory highlighting the potential for extremist violence due to the October 7 anniversary and ongoing turmoil in the Middle East. The ADL’s preliminary data showed a substantial number of incidents, including physical assaults, acts of vandalism, and verbal or written harassment.
College campuses in the US have also experienced a significant rise in antisemitic incidents, with a 500% increase in the past year. The tensions surrounding Israeli-Palestinian issues have escalated on campuses, leading to protests and instances of violence, including antisemitic intimidation and assaults.
The FBI highlighted that threats to Jews in the US are disproportionately high compared to other religious-based crimes. FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the unique targeting of the Jewish community by various terrorist organizations, underscoring the urgency to address religious-based hate crimes.