Germany has seen an “alarming” rise in anti-Semitic incidents, with a dramatic 80% increase in 2023, fueled by the fallout from the October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel.
These shocking statistics were published in a report by the Federal Association of Research and Information Departments on Antisemitism (RIAS).
The explosive document reveals that the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany has soared by more than 80 percent, from 2,616 in 2022 to 4,782 in 2023, with 46 percent of all documented cases occurring on the streets, in public buildings or in transport. .
These frightening figures correspond to an average of 13 incidents recorded per day last year.
This worrying increase places Germany among the leading countries in Europe in terms of anti-Semitic incidents, third behind France and the United Kingdom.
Germany has seen an “alarming” increase in anti-Semitic attacks following the October 7 Hamas attacks in southern Israel. Pictured: Dramatic body camera footage shows a Hamas terrorist group wearing khakis as they ride motorcycles in a convoy on October 7, 2023.
Pictured: Hamas militants rounded up people in Israel on October 7, 2023 and brought them back to Gaza, where some remain held hostage.
Pictured: The aftermath of an attack on the Supernova music festival by Palestinian militants on October 7, 2023.
It is particularly linked to the events following October 7, 2023, when the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel triggered a wave of anti-Semitic reactions in Germany.
Bianca Loy, co-author and research associate at the Bundesverband RIAS e. V. said the results are “alarming.”
“Anti-Semitism shapes the daily lives of Jews, forcing many to hide their Jewish identity. This situation is alarming and unacceptable.
Here, the RIAS documented that 58% of the year’s anti-Semitic incidents in Germany occurred after this date, with daily incidents increasing from an average of 7 in 2022 to 13 in 2023.
In the three months since the October 7 terrorist attacks, a staggering 2,787 incidents have been reported.
These episodes included extreme violence, threats and property damage, creating an environment of fear and insecurity for Jewish communities.
“Anti-Semitic massacres and terrorist attacks in Israel incite Germans 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. Thus, violence against Jews was justified, trivialized or denied.
By comparison, the rise in anti-Semitic incidents in Germany has outpaced that of other European countries.
In France, for example, the number of incidents increased by 30 percent, while in the United Kingdom it increased by 25 percent.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that a significant proportion of these anti-Semitic incidents were politically motivated. Incidents categorized as anti-Israel activism accounted for 12 percent of all cases, a substantial increase from previous years.
Dashcam footage showed Hamas militants attacking an all-night music festival in southern Israel, shooting and killing revelers at point-blank range and then looting their belongings.
Smoke and flames rise after Israeli forces hit a tower in Gaza City, October 7, 2023.
Meanwhile, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in German schools, universities and other educational institutions is also exploding, 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, attacks and a feeling of constant threat are a reality for many Jews.
“Many also worry whether a free and secure life as a Jew in Germany will be possible in the future. The life of the Jewish community can only take place in conditions of maximum security.
“Anti-Semitic ideology extends from the far left to the far right and into the middle of society. Only if we name it clearly can we fight against it. The work of the RIAS makes an important contribution to this.
Attacks against Muslims also increased after October 7, according to a separate report released this week.
Four attempted murders are among the 1,926 incidents recorded in Germany in 2023 by the CLAIM network of NGOs which monitors Islamophobia.
The CLAIM report found that incidents increased by 114 percent last year, with more than five anti-Muslim attacks taking place every day.
These attacks included discrimination, verbal and physical violence or property damage.
Some 90 attacks on places of religious worship such as mosques, cemeteries and places marked by Muslims were also recorded.
Children have been listed among those physically and verbally attacked, while women appear to be the most frequent targets of these attacks.
Rima Hanano, head of CLAIM, said: “The massive increase in anti-Muslim attacks and discrimination in 2023 is more than worrying.
“At the same time, this threat has so far barely been noticed. For Muslims and people perceived as such, the street, the bus or the mosque are no longer safe places.
“Anti-Muslim racism has never been more socially acceptable than today and it comes from the middle of society. The consequences for those affected are often serious and many people feel they do not deserve solidarity.
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