Australia records 400% increase in antisemitic incidents since Oct 7 massacre

Australia has recorded a whopping 400% increase in antisemitic incidents since the Hamas invasion and massacre in southern Israel on Oct. 7 of last year.

Antisemitic cases numbering 2,062 were recorded between October 2023 and September 2024 in Australia, according to a report compiled by the Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ). By comparison, a mere 495 antisemitic cases were reported during the previous year.

The report focuses on six areas of antisemitic incidents: assault, vandalism, abuse, messages, graffiti and posters. 

ECAJ Research Director Julie Nathan, who compiled the report, argued that the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 encouraged antisemites in Australia to intensify hostilities against the local Jewish community. 

“If anything, the raw numbers understate the seriousness of the surge in antisemitism that has occurred. There have been many new forms and expressions of anti-Jewish racism that would once have been considered alien to Australia, but which have become commonplace,” Nathan assessed.

“If it was thought that anti-Jewish racism was a thing of the past and defeated, the last 12 months has shown that it has been cynically reactivated and stoked for political purposes.”

Nathan emphasized the need for Australian authorities to step up their fight against antisemitism. 

“The physical, verbal and other forms of attacks on Jewish individuals, families and community venues will continue to worsen unless governments, police and others show some spine by taking resolute action to halt the rising tide of acts of hatred against the Jewish community and bringing those responsible to account,” Nathan said. 

Like in many other Western societies, individuals with a Muslim background are responsible for a disproportionate amount of antisemitic incidents. For instance, Sheikh Ibrahim Daoud recently praised violence against Jews by declaring “a day of courage, resistance, pride, and victory” at a rally in Lakemba, Sydney.

Furthermore, an anti-Jewish and anti-Israel Muslim mob chanted, “F*ck the Jews,” outside of Sydney's famous Opera House. Many individuals who witnessed the disturbing antisemitic incident, also heard some chanting, “Gas the Jews,” which is a direct reference to the genocide of six million Jews during the Holocaust. 

Located far away from conflict zones and offering a prosperous economy, Australia has attracted a large number of immigrants from all over the world, including those from Muslim-majority nations.

Australia is home to approximately 100,000 Jews, making it one of the largest Jewish communities in the world.

The Australian Jewish community has been significantly boosted by the arrival of many South African Jews. 

While much work remains to combat the rise of antisemitism in Australia, some efforts have already been made to stop the spread of racism and bigotry.

In January, Australia passed new laws banning the public display of Nazi or terrorist symbols. 

Attorney General Mark Dreyfus welcomed this development. 

“This is the first legislation of its kind and will ensure no one in Australia will be allowed to glorify or profit from acts and symbols that celebrate the Nazis and their evil ideology,” Dreyfus said, adding that the new legislation “sent a clear message there was no place in Australia for those who glorify the Holocaust or terrorist acts.”

Much of the ongoing antisemitism in Australia and internationally is framed as 'anti-Zionism,' 'pro-Palestine,' and 'human rights' activism, making it more difficult for legislators and law enforcement to determine when freedom of expression crosses into antisemitism.