EU authorities have warned about a recent spike in anti-semitic and Islamophobic incidents throughout Europe as Israel-Hamas war continues.
A demonstrator holds the Palestinian flag during a pro-Palestinian rally at the Republique Square in Paris, France. (Photo by Ibrahim Ezzat/Anadolu via Getty Images)
A guest wears a kippah with the Star of David during the inauguration of the Weill-Synagogue in in Dessau-Rosslau, eastern Germany. (Photo by HENDRIK SCHMIDT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
“We’ve seen a very clear rising trend of anti-Muslim hatred and anti-Semitic narratives,” an EU official told Al Jazeera.
British and Israeli Jews protest outside the residence of the Israeli ambassador on October 20, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
“This hate speech ranges from microaggressions to clear threats and we’ve observed most of it happening on social media platforms,” they added.
People attending a demonstration to show solidarity with Israel and against anti-semitism hold up photographs of hostages taken by Hamas on October 22, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
On Nov. 5, the European Union commission said the rise in hate crimes against Jews “has reached extraordinary levels in the last few days, reminiscent of some of the darkest times in history”.
An Orthodox Jewish boy waits to cross a road next to police officers patrolling Stamford Hill, an area of London with a large Jewish community. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)
It cited incidents including people tossing Molotov cocktails at a synagogue in Germany, spraying stars of David on residential buildings in France and attacking Jewish establishments in Spain.
A participant holds a sign that reads: “For safe Jewish life in Germany” during a vigil outside the community center and synagogue of the Kahal Adass Jisroel Orthodox Jewish community. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
There was also a case of stars of David being sprayed on buildings in France, which French officials now say they believe were the work of Russian intelligence.
A man enters a building whose facade is covered with Stars of David painted during the night, in the Alesia district of Paris. (Photo by Geoffroy Van der Hasselt / AFP)
The Arab and Muslim communities have experienced death threats, harassment both online and offline, and being labeled as “Hamas terrorists” due to their support for Palestine.
Protesters during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in Syntagma Square, Athens, Greece, on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. A massive bombing at a Gaza City hospital killed at least 500 people and led to Israel and Hamas trading blame for the attack. (Photographer: Nick Paleologos/Bloomberg)
Human Rights Watch said that besides the UK, EU countries have failed to report hate crimes against Muslims since Oct. 7, which has meant governments have not been able to respond properly.
Pro Palestine demonstrators on Nelson’s Column on October 21, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, France tried to ban “pro-Palestinian demonstrations because they are likely to generate public order disturbances,” according to AFP.
A protester holds a placard reading “Jewish and anti-Zionist against the genocide of the Palestinians, not in my name” as protesters. (Photo by DIMITAR DILKOFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Human rights organizations have criticized the move from France and other European government and said the moves “constitutes a serious and disproportionate attack on the right to demonstrate.”
Pro Palestine supporters hold banners and wave Palestinian flags during a demonstration to call for a ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, on November 4, 2023 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
Protestors hold a sit-in at Charing Cross Station as Pro-Palestinian protest groups call for an Immediate ceasefire in Gaza on November 4, 2023 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Guy Smallman/Getty Images)
The EU commission has promised to increase protection in places of worship promised to enforced legislation that demands online platforms to address “antisemitic or anti-Muslim content online, be it terrorist content, hate speech or disinformation”.
TOPSHOT – People protest against the bombing in Gaza outside the Foreign Ministry in Berlin. (Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images)
