Since the terrorist group Hamas attacked Israel, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany has risen sharply. According to a RIAS report, on average there are 29 incidents per day.
The number of anti-Semitic incidents in Germany has increased dramatically since the terrorist organization Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th. The Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers (RIAS) documented one report According to 994 such incidents from October 7th to November 9th. That’s an average of 29 cases per day – more than four times as many as the annual average for 2022. At that time it was seven per day.
The RIAS offices also report a consistently high number of reports. The 994 anti-Semitic incidents include three cases of extreme violence, 29 attacks and 72 targeted damage to property. The majority of 854 cases involved “hurtful behavior,” such as anti-Semitic statements. According to RIAS, 177 of these were anti-Semitic gatherings.
From graffiti to physical attacks
Jews were increasingly affected by anti-Semitic incidents in everyday places such as the neighborhood, their workplace or at universities. The RIAS reporting centers became aware of 59 cases in the immediate residential area alone. These range from anti-Semitic graffiti to dropped anti-Semitic leaflets to physical attacks.
Increase also at universities
According to the RIAS, anti-Semitism is also increasing at universities – in the form of anti-Israel propaganda, anti-Semitic graffiti and flyers. The association registered a total of 37 incidents here. If Jewish students stay away from campus out of concern about anti-Semitic experiences, explained RIAS managing director Benjamin Steinitz, their fellow students and also the university management have a responsibility. They must “take strong action against anti-Semitism.”
The report also breaks down the documented incidents according to political background. Almost one in five of the reported cases was attributed to anti-Israel activism. Another six percent were classified as Islamic/Islamist, five percent as left-wing or anti-imperialist.
Almost two percent each come from the right-wing extremist and conspiracy ideology backgrounds. In 63 percent of cases, however, the political background was unknown.