The German government has reported a significant increase in antisemitic crimes, correlating with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East as the anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel approaches. As of October 4, 2024, antisemitic incidents have doubled compared to the previous year, with police investigating 3,200 cases in 2024, up from 1,600 in 2023.
Data released by the German Ministry of the Interior highlights that since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas, there have been 8,500 politically motivated crimes linked to the conflict, including 3,400 classified as antisemitic. The majority of these incidents involve property damage and incitement of hatred against Jews.
The Ministry expressed concern over the rising antisemitism, stating that various extremist groups are exploiting the situation in the Middle East to incite violence against Jews and the state of Israel. The report notes that Sunni groups previously uninvolved in the conflict have begun to engage, contributing to the rise in antisemitic crimes.
Authorities are particularly worried about the potential for violence on October 7, marking the anniversary of the Hamas attack, which resulted in the deaths of 1,205 people in Israel, mostly civilians. The German intelligence chief, Thomas Haldenwang, warned that this date could trigger unrest, with a heightened risk of violent actions against Israeli and Jewish targets.
In parallel, incidents of Islamophobia in Germany are also on the rise, with 1,926 cases reported by mid-2024. The ongoing tensions and the potential for escalated violence pose significant challenges for the German authorities as they brace for possible protests and unrest.