Caution this article contains the author’s own perspective and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bear Truth News or Winter Springs High School.
On October 7, Israel was attacked by a group known as Hamas from Gaza. This attack killed 1,400 people of the 10 million who live within Israel’s borders. In response Israel has bombed Gaza, where Hamas is located, in an attempt to destroy them. This has led to many civilian deaths and disputes over who is morally right in the war. The war itself is ongoing, and as of October 24 has no approaching end.
The conflict itself is having impacts worldwide for many Jews. The Anti-Defamation League is an organization which informs about, tracks, and tries to prevent antisemitisim around the world. Their statistics show a distinct rise in antisemitism since October 7th when the war began. Some of these statistics include 336 arrests after 588 antisemetic incidents were reported to the police in France, a “240% increase in antisemitic incidents since Oct 7 … 91% of which are anti-Israel related” in Germany, and in the UK from October 1-18 there were 218 antisemetic hate crimes reported (ADL).
Many people argue that this isn’t a war of religion, and that this is not a distinct act against Jews, but the statistics are proving otherwise. Many Jews have described feeling less safe since the war began. Some American Jews have purchased firearms in an attempt to protect themselves from harm. NBC stated, “Firearm instructors and Jewish security groups across the country say they have been flooded with new clientele since Hamas assaulted Israel on Oct. 7” they continued “Pro-Hamas extremists and neo-Nazis have inundated social media platforms with calls for attacks on Jewish communities and other targets in the U.S. and Europe.” This has led most jews to not feel safe despite being on the other side of the world from the conflict.
In the Central Florida area there have been multiple antisemetic incidents recently reported including gatherings of neo-nazis in Disney and Altamonte Springs. Many in the area have felt the influence of this in their lives. Daniel Kaprow, a local university student, stated, “Imagine for a second the cross necklace that you have worn for years suddenly makes you a target to people who hate you for no reason, other than you were born Christian. That is the reality for Jews.” Many people are facing hostility for no other reason than believing in and practicing their religion.
Government action continues to be limited in what actions can be taken against growing waves of hate. Often the line between protesters and those attacking Jews can be easily blurred as these tensions grow alongside the continuing war. The straining relationships will only spread more death, destruction, and suffering if people continue to promote it. While the right to protest and of free speech is one that people should use, turning it into a weapon to dehumanize and attack others is a terrible act in itself. This hatred being turned onto a community which is not directly responsible for the actions taking place in the Middle East is using them as a scapegoat. Even in situations where those who are expressing their rights to protest and free speech in support of Israel, and its actions, should not be attacked, especially when many of the people who attack them will go on to express those rights to support Palestine, and sometimes Hamas or neo-nazis.
