Record antisemitic incidents reported in first half of 2024

The number of antisemitic incidents in schools rose by almost 120 per cent, from 74 incidents in the first half of last year to a record 162 in the first half of this year, according to a new report.

Half of these took place in the context of non-faith schools, compared to 36 per cent from January to June 2023.

The report by the the Community Security Trust said the rise is typical of times when Israel is at war.

A record number of reports of anti-Jewish also occurred in the higher education sphere. In the first half of 2024, CST recorded 96 antisemitic incidents in which the victims or offenders were students or academics, or which involved student unions, societies or other representative bodies. It is a rise of 465 per cent from the same period in 2023, when 17 instances of university-related antisemitism were reported.

Of these 96 incidents, 45 were online, 44 took place on campus or university premises, and 70 referenced Israel and events in the Middle East.

For context, 51 per cent of incidents not linked to universities contained this rhetoric.