Reports of antisemitic incidents in the United States have soared to unprecedented levels following last year’s Hamas attack on Israel, according to a preliminary report from the Anti-Defamation League Center for Extremism. The report highlighted over 10,000 incidents recorded from October 7, 2023, to September 24, 2024, marking a staggering 200% increase compared to the same timeframe a year prior. This represents the highest number of antisemitic incidents tracked since the organization began monitoring such activities in 1979.
The alarming rise comes as the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint statement warning of potential violent threats amid continuing unrest in the Middle East. ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt emphasized that Jewish Americans have endured relentless antisemitic threats since the attack that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals.
The reported incidents include approximately 8,015 cases of verbal or written harassment, 1,840 incidents of vandalism, and 150 physical assaults. The states most affected were California, with 1,266 incidents; New York, with 1,218; New Jersey, with 830; and Florida, with 463. The ADL anticipates that the preliminary figures may rise as additional data is collected, with a comprehensive report expected in the spring of 2025.
The increase is partially attributed to a revised methodology that now includes “expressions of opposition to Zionism” and actions perceived as supportive of terrorism. Notably, over 3,000 incidents occurred during anti-Israel protests, featuring explicit support for terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Excluding these events, the ADL recorded 7,523 antisemitic incidents, reflecting a 103% increase compared to 2022.
In the wake of the October 7 attack, Israel initiated a large-scale military operation in Gaza aimed at neutralizing Hamas. The ongoing conflict has reportedly resulted in the deaths of over 41,870 Palestinians and more than 97,000 injuries, predominantly among women and children, according to the health ministry in Gaza.
This conflict has incited widespread demonstrations across the U.S., particularly on college campuses, where many have protested the escalating humanitarian crisis. Concurrently, violence in Lebanon has led to over 1,000 fatalities and a significant displacement crisis due to Israel’s military actions against Hezbollah.
The unrest has also sparked a notable increase in anti-Muslim and Islamophobic incidents in the U.S. A report released earlier this year revealed that anti-Muslim incidents reached 8,061 in 2023, the highest figure since tracking began nearly three decades ago, with nearly half of these incidents occurring post-October 7.
