NEW YORK, NY – A significant increase in anti-Semitic attacks has been reported in New York City, triggered by recent events in the Middle East. The New York Police Department’s Hate Crime Task Force noted a 54% rise in overall bias incidents in May, up from 56 in 2023 to 86 this year.
Notably, anti-Jewish offenses surged by 150%, with 55 incidents recorded compared to 22 the previous year.
This escalation in anti-Jewish attacks correlates with the Israeli military’s response to a terrorist attack by Hamas on October 6, which claimed the lives of over 1,000 women and children. The NYPD’s data also reveals a contrasting 83% decrease in anti-Asian crimes for the same month, with the numbers falling from 12 last year to 2 this year.
The community and local authorities are on high alert due to the rising tension and increased incidents of hate crimes. This uptick is part of a broader pattern of bias-related crimes fluctuating in response to international events, highlighting the broader implications of global conflicts on local communities.