'Massive increase' in antisemitism in London since Israel-Hamas war began

London has seen a “massive increase” in antisemitic incidents and offences since the start of the deadly Israel-Gaza conflict, Scotland Yard has said.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed the “disgusting” rise in cases will be met with “the full force of the law”.

It comes as video emerged appearing to show Palestinian supporters in London tearing down posters of missing Israeli children who were taken hostage by Hamas during their shock assault at the weekend.

War latest: Israel tells 1.1m Palestinians to get out of north Gaza as offensive looms

In the face of online threats, a “significant number” of Jewish pupils were not expected to attend classes on Friday, while some schools temporarily shut due to safety fears.

Students are also being warned by schools to disguise their uniform because of a fear of retaliatory attacks.

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Speaking at a news conference, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor of the Metropolitan Police said: “Last year in the period of 30 September to 13 October, we saw 14 antisemitic incidents and 12 antisemitic offences, this year in that same period, we’ve seen 105 antisemitic incidents and 75 antisemitic offences.

“That is a massive increase in antisemitic crime and incidents.

“In balance, we have seen an increase in Islamophobic incidents, but nothing like the scale of the increase in antisemitism.”

He said offences in the past week included intimidation outside synagogues and loud playing of German military music.

In response to security concerns, the government has provided an extra £3m in funding to bolster security at Jewish schools and synagogues.

Speaking at a summit in Sweden, Mr Sunak said: “Yesterday, I chaired a meeting of police chiefs in Downing Street, together with the Community Security Trust, to specifically make sure that everybody in our Jewish communities can feel safe. There’s been, quite frankly, a disgusting rise in antisemitic incidents over the past few days.

“That’s not right. We have provided extra funding to the Community Security Trust to make sure that Jewish institutions – whether that’s synagogue or schools – have all the protection they need and the police have all the support that they need to ensure that our streets are safe for people from all communities.

“Because we will absolutely not tolerate people inciting hatred, or violence, or racist activity, intimidating or threatening behaviour will not be tolerated.

“It will be met with the full force of the law.”

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Isaac Zarfati, executive director of StandWithUs UK, told Sky News: “The Jewish community today lives in fear – and we are not in 1923, we are in 2023 in London.”

He added: “I spoke with people in the community in the last 24 hours – they are considering if they need to go to work today.

“This is not Europe of 2023 – this is London of 2023, and this is a very, very concerning situation.”

Meanwhile, the Met are expecting more than 10,000 people to attend a pro-Palestine protest planned in central London on Saturday.

Asked if waving Palestinian flags or saying “free Palestine” in public could constitute a crime, Mr Sunak said: “There’s very clear guidance for the police about the measures that they can take, but inciting violence, racial hatred, is illegal.

“People who are acting in an abusive or threatening manner, causing distress, are breaking the law.

“The police have the power and the tools that they need to ensure they can stop that from happening and you will see that in full force in the coming days to make sure anyone who breaks the law meets the full force of that law.”

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With the situation in Israel and Gaza worsening, the government is arranging flights to help British nationals leave Israel.

To date, at least 1,300 Israelis have died while 1,537 Palestinians, including 500 children, have been killed in retaliatory strikes in Gaza – where electricity, water and fuel have been cut off.

Mr Sunak said Royal Navy ships being sent to the eastern Mediterranean would be able to provide humanitarian support to those affected by the conflict.

Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has told Sky News it is “highly likely” that Britons are among those taken hostage by Hamas in Gaza.

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