The Gaza war may be over, but for British Jews, a new battle is just beginning – one for their sense of security and belonging. In the year since Hamas fired over 4,000 rockets at Israel last October, launching a devastating 11-day conflict, antisemitic incidents in the UK have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, leaving the nation’s Jewish community shaken and apprehensive.
Antisemitism Reaches All-Time High
The numbers paint a stark picture. In the 12 months following the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7th, the Community Security Trust (CST) recorded a staggering 5,583 antisemitic incidents across the UK – an astounding 204% increase compared to the previous year. This tsunami of hate has included everything from abusive behavior and threats to physical assaults, leaving no part of the community untouched.
It looks as if wherever people were on that question, they have moved up one notch from where they were. There’s a sense people feel more uneasy about their place in British society.
Jonathan Boyd, Institute for Jewish Policy Research
Shifting Attitudes Toward Israel
Experts say this onslaught of antisemitism is having a profound impact on British Jews’ attitudes toward Israel. A survey by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) found that in 2022, 73% of respondents said they were “very unlikely” to emigrate to Israel in the next five years. But by 2024, that figure had dropped to 65%, while those who felt “very likely” to make the move rose from 5% to 6%.
JPR executive director Jonathan Boyd told the Guardian that the events since October 7 have contributed to British Jews questioning whether the UK is where they want to spend their lives. “Often it’s sensationalized, but there is something going on, there is a shift,” he noted.
A Community on Edge
For British Jews, especially those in Greater Manchester which saw the highest number of antisemitic incidents outside London, the impact has been visceral. Marc Levy, CEO of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester, said many in the tight-knit community were so rattled they “don’t see a future in the UK”.
A new report by equality thinktank Runnymede Trust warns of a “growing feeling of insecurity among many Jewish people”, stating that current approaches to tackling antisemitism are falling short. The trust’s co-author Prof David Feldman called for new alliances between Jewish people and other minorities to confront the scourge.
Fears of an Exodus?
So are we on the brink of a British Jewish exodus? Not quite, say experts, who caution against alarmism. While 520 UK Jews migrated to Israel from January to November 2024, a 46% jump from 2023, JPR projects the final 2024 tally will be around 570 – above the historical average but well below the 2009 peak of 708.
Still, Boyd warns that number could rise if the UK faces a major economic downturn or social unrest. And for many British Jews, the appeal of a nation that puts “Jewishness front and center” may outweigh the security risks of life in Israel.
Rebuilding After the Tsunami
As the Gaza ceasefire takes hold, the CST expresses cautious hope that the tide of antisemitism will ebb. But the scars of the past year run deep. For a community that has grown accustomed to living “behind gates and security guards”, the struggle to rebuild a sense of belonging will be an ongoing one.
As a Jewish person [post-October 7] a lot of the time you were looking around for solidarity and there wasn’t any. I’m hoping with the ceasefire things will calm down and we can start rebuilding our friendships.
Marc Levy, Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester
In the end, stemming the tide of antisemitism will require a society-wide effort, with Jews and other minorities leading the charge. Only by standing together can Britain hope to wash away this stain and restore a sense of security for all its citizens.
