Data released by police on Friday revealed that incidents of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia have nearly doubled in London over just a little over a week following Hamas's attack on southern Israel about three weeks ago and the subsequent bombings by Israel. Tensions have escalated in Britain and elsewhere since Hamas militants invaded Israeli towns and Israel responded by besieging Gaza. Demonstrations in solidarity with the Palestinians have taken place, while Jewish groups have organized nightly vigils in support of hostages taken by Hamas, some of whom are British.
London police official Kyle Gordon stated that the capital has recorded 408 anti-Semitic incidents so far this month compared to 28 incidents during the same period last year, and 174 Islamophobic crimes compared to 65 the year prior. The number of both types of crimes has nearly doubled compared to the data from a week ago.
Kyle told reporters, "My colleagues continue to tackle any hate crime they encounter... Since the start of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, we have arrested 75 individuals in connection with the conflict." Approximately 100,000 protesters participated last week in a march organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, after which the police faced criticism from some members of parliament for not handling the slogans shouted by some participants more rigorously.
