Germany sees ‘alarming’ rise in anti-Semitic incidents, with dramatic 80% increase by 2023, fueled by fallout from October 7 Hamas attacks in Israel

Germany saw an “alarming” rise in anti-Semitic incidents, with a dramatic 80 percent increase by 2023, fueled by the fallout from the October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel.

The shocking statistics were published in a report by the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS).

The bombshell document showed that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany has risen by more than 80 percent, from 2,616 in 2022 to 4,782 in 2023, with 46 percent of all documented cases taking place on the streets, in public buildings or in the transport sector. .

These horrifying figures equate to an average of 13 recorded incidents per day last year.

The worrying increase puts Germany among the top countries in Europe for anti-Semitic incidents, ranking third behind France and Britain.

Pictured: Hamas militants rounded up people in Israel on October 7, 2023 and returned them to Gaza, where some are still being held as hostages

Pictured: The aftermath of an attack on the Supernova music festival by Palestinian militants on October 7, 2023

It is mainly related to the events after October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel caused a wave of anti-Semitic reactions in Germany.

Bianca Loy, co-author and research associate at the Bundesverband RIAS said the results are ‘alarming’.

‘Anti-Semitism determines the daily lives of Jews and forces many to hide their Jewish identity. This situation is alarming and unacceptable.”

Here, RIAS documented that 58 percent of the year’s anti-Semitic incidents in Germany occurred after this date, with the number of daily incidents increasing from an average of 7 in 2022 to 13 in 2023.

In the three months following the October 7 terror attacks, no fewer than 2,787 incidents were reported.

These episodes included extreme violence, threats and property damage, creating an environment of fear and insecurity for Jewish communities.

“The anti-Semitic massacres and terrorist attacks in Israel motivate people in Germany to engage in anti-Semitic behavior,” Loy said.

“Many well-known anti-Semitic stereotypes have been updated and applied to the Hamas massacres and the war in Israel and Gaza. This justifies, trivializes or denies violence against Jews.’

By comparison, the increase in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany exceeded the increase in other European countries.

In France, for example, the number of incidents rose by 30 percent, while in Britain it increased by 25 percent.

The situation is made worse by the fact that a significant portion of these anti-Semitic incidents were politically motivated.

Incidents falling under anti-Israel activism made up 12 percent of all cases, a significant increase from previous years.

Dashcam footage shows Hamas militants attacking a nighttime music festival in southern Israel, shooting revelers at point-blank range and then looting their belongings.

Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces smash a tall tower in Gaza City, October 7, 2023

Meanwhile, the number of anti-Semitic incidents at German schools, universities and other educational institutions is also rising through the roof: from 184 in 2022 to 471 in 2023.

Daniel Botmann, general director of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, said of the report: ‘Hostility, abuse and a sense of constant threat are a reality for many Jews.

‘Many are also concerned about whether a free and safe life as Jews in Germany will be possible in the future. Jewish community life can only take place under conditions of maximum security.’

‘The anti-Semitic ideology extends from the far left to the far right and into the center of society. Only if we identify this with complete clarity can we fight it. The work of RIAS makes an important contribution to this.’

Attacks on Muslims also increased after October 7, according to a separate report released this week.

Four attempted murders are among 1,926 incidents recorded in Germany in 2023 by the CLAIM network of NGOs monitoring Islamophobia.

The CLAIM report shows that the number of incidents increased by no less than 114 percent last year. More than five anti-Islamic attacks occurred every day.

These attacks include discrimination, verbal and physical abuse or damage to property.

About 90 attacks on religious places of worship, such as mosques, cemeteries and Muslim-marked places, were also recorded.

Children were documented among those physically and verbally abused, while women appeared to be the most common targets of these attacks.

Rima Hanano, head of CLAIM, said: “The massive increase in anti-Muslim attacks and discrimination in 2023 is beyond worrying.

‘At the same time, this threat has hardly been noticed until now. For Muslims and people who are seen as such, the street, the bus or the mosque are no longer safe places.

‘Anti-Muslim racism has never been as socially acceptable as it is now and it comes from the center of society. The consequences for those affected are often serious and many people feel that they are not worthy of solidarity.’