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Antisemitism during the 2026 Iran war

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During the 2026 Iran war, which began on 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel engaged in a war with Iran and its regional allies, antisemitic incidents increased worldwide.[1][2] many of the incidents, including the a wave of attacks in London in March-April 2026, were claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia, which is believed to be a front group for Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, who had outsourced the acts to local criminals and used the group to create plausible deniability.

Globally

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Combat Antisemitism Movement’s (CAM) Antisemitism Research Center documented an increase in 34% in global antisemitism in the week following the beginning of the war. The report indicated that close to half of those cases (73 out of 154) were directly tied to the war. These included threats, violence, and conspiracy theories blaming Jews for the war.[1][2]

Europe

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See also: Antisemitism in Europe

Belgium

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See also: Antisemitism in contemporary Belgium

On 9 March 2026, the Synagogue de Liège was damaged by an explosion. While no one was hurt, windows of the synagogue and a nearby building were damaged.[3][4] Authorities started a federal investigation into what they characterized as an antisemitic incident. Liège mayor Willy Demeyer described the blast as an antisemitic act and stated, “We cannot allow foreign conflicts to be imported into our city.”[5][6]

On 24 March 2026, a car was set on fire in Antwerp’s Jewish quarter, in what Belgian authorities suspect to be an antisemitic attack. Two under-age adults were arrested. While an Iran‑aligned militant collective called Harakat Ashab al‑Yamin al‑Islamia claimed responsibility for the attack, authorities are still investigating.[7][8][9]

Germany

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See also: Antisemitism in 21st-century Germany

On 10 April 2026, unidentified individuals threw suspected pyrotechnic devices into an Israeli restaurant in Munich, shattering windows and causing damage estimated to be of several thousand euros. No one was injured as the incident happened at around 00:45 local time. Authorities “believe an antisemitic motive prompted vandalism.”[10][11][12][13]

The Independent also reported that German police were investigating an antisemitic motive and added that the attack took place amid heightened tensions linked to the Middle East conflict involving Iran.[14]

Netherlands

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See also: History of the Jews in the Netherlands

On March 13, 2026, an attack damaged a synagogue on A.B.N. Davidsplein in Rotterdam. While no injuries were reported, the explosion did cause a fire. International outlets reported about the incident as part of several suspected antisemitic attacks following the outbreak of the Iran war.[15][16][17]

On March 14, 2026, a Jewish school in Amsterdam was damaged by an explosion, characterised by the city's mayor Femke Halsema as "a deliberate attack against the Jewish community". She also stated that "Jewish people in Amsterdam are increasingly confronted with antisemitism. This is unacceptable.” This incident was reported alongside the incidents Rotterdam and Liège targeting Jewish institutions following the outbreak of the Iran war.[18][19][20]

On 4 April 2026, the 'Israel Center' in Nijkerk was damaged by an explosion. No individual was hurt. Police said that no arrests were made thus far. Christians for Israel, the organisation who operates the targeted building, said that this incident “is also a stark reminder of the growing unease felt by Jewish communities in the Netherlands and around the world. We are seeing a troubling rise in threats and intimidation directed at the Jewish people.”[21] Associated Press and AFP mentioned that similar incidents took place in Europe.[22][23] CBS News reported that such attacks raised concerns about antisemitism following the outbreak of the Iran war.[24]

United Kingdom

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Main article: 2026 London antisemitic attacks

On 24 March 2026, four ambulances belonging to Hatzola, a Jewish emergency medical service, were set on fire in Golders Green, London. Metropolitan Police chief Sir Mark Rowley said that officers were investigating the possibility that a group linked to the Iranian government could be behind the attack. The group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility, but police have not yet confirmed the veracity of their statement.[25] British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, called this incident a “deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack.[26] Two UK nationals were arrested in relation to the attack. They were released on bail.[27]

Further incidents took place in London in April and May 2026, including arson and attempted arson of synagogues and Jewish-linked property and community organisations in Finchley, Hendon and Harrow. Some of these incidents were investigated as antisemitic hate crimes and counter-terrorism authorities were sometimes involved.[28][29]

On 29 April, a man ran along Golders Green Road attempting to stab Jewish passers‑by. He managed to stab Shloime Rand, 34, and Moshe Shine, 76. Both victims were treated at the scene and taken to hospital. Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the "antisemitic attack" as "utterly appalling".[30] The 45‑year‑old assailant was detained by Shomrim volunteers before being arrested by police.[31][verify] The Iran-linked group Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamia claimed responsibility for the attack.[32]

On 18 May, London’s Metropolitan Police said an alleged assault on a Jewish man in Golders Green early that morning was being being treated as an antisemitic hate crime. The victim, who was treated for wounds, had told police he was attacked by a group of men shouting in Arabic after they overheard him speaking Hebrew.[33]

North America

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Canada

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See also: Antisemitism in Canada

On March 2 at about 10:49 p.m., gunshots were fired towards Temple Emanu-El synagogue in Toronto. While no injuries were reported, the window of the building was damaged in what the authorities described as a targeted hate-related act.[34][35]

On March 6–7, the glass doors of Beth Avraham Yoseph Modern Orthodox synagogue in Thornhill were shot at.[36] At around the same time, another synagogue, Shaarei Shomayim, was damaged from multiple bullet holes found in the front doors during an overnight shooting by an unidentified individual.[37]

United States

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See also: Antisemitism in the United States

On March 5, 2026, activists staged a performance on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House in Washington, D.C., depicting figures representing Benjamin Netanyahu, Donald Trump, and Jeffrey Epstein consuming a mock infant. According to The Times of Israel, the display was described as invoking the antisemitic “blood libel” trope, and included banners referencing the “Zionist World Plan” and a “pedophile blackmail dinner.”[38] The Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington characterised it as 'a sickening display of full-throated antisemitism',[39] whereas the American Jewish Committee said 'Blood libel was on full display today at Union Station in Washington, D.C. ... this was nothing less than the revival of one of the oldest and most dangerous antisemitic tropes in history.'[40] In an opinion piece for the Washington Jewish Week, Pamela S. Nadell wrote that images of leaders consuming “blood and organs” echo the medieval blood libel.[41]

On March 8, two men speaking in Hebrew in a Santana Row restaurant, San Jose, California, were violently assaulted. The attacker allegedly shouted at them "don't mess with Iran" and antisemitic slurs. Video footage showed the victims being punched and kicked in an incident investigated as a possible antisemitic hate crime.[42][43][44]

On March 12, a Lebanese-American man rammed a vehicle into Temple Israel, a Reform Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, causing the vehicle to catch fire and igniting smoke inside the building. Security personnel shot and killed the attacker. A security guard was injured after he was hit by the vehicle and at least 30 law‑enforcement officers were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. The incident is being investigating as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.[45][46][47]

In April, a teen in Texas was charged with allegedly conspiring with two men to attack a Houston synagogue to "kill as many Jews as possible."[48]

On May 13, 2026, a flag featuring a Jewish star and two swastikas was briefly displayed on top of a building at New York University in New York. The flag went up during an event for the school’s Graduation Week. The flag, which was purple, the school’s colors, looked like flags that fly on top of many of the school’s buildings. The flag was flown on top of the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, which is named after Michael and Judy Steinhardt. Michael Steinhardt is a major philanthropist to NYU, as well as Jewish and Israeli causes. The flag was taken down after about 15 minutes.[49]

Online antisemitism

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On 4 March 2026, American right-wing political commentator Candace Owens made several posts on X, including a reshared AI-generated image of US President Trump with Israeli flags.[50][51][52]

CyberWell said antisemitic tropes and the Zionist Occupied Government (ZOG) conspiracy theory had been published on social media during the war, claiming that Israel secretly controls the U.S. government.[53][54] CAM’s Antisemitism Research Center also reported the circulation of antisemitic posts on social media using traditional antisemitic tropes and imagery.[55][1]

One example presented by CyberWell and Combat Antisemitism Movement is the AI-generated song "Boom Boom Tel Aviv", that had originally been released online and gained popularity around the time of the 12‑day war in 2025 which saw massive resurgence after the war started, both offline and offline. According to these platforms, the widespread streaming of this song was perceived to be a part of the broader surge in antisemitism.[56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Staff, J. N. S. (2026-03-09). "Global antisemitism up 34% after Iran war outbreak". JNS.org. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  2. ^ a b Reporter, J. C. (2026-03-09). "Global incidents of antisemitism 'jump by a third' since outbreak of Iran war". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  3. ^ "Belgian synagogue damaged in blast considered antisemitic act". Reuters. 9 March 2026.
  4. ^ "European countries on alert after blasts near a Belgian synagogue". AP News. March 2026.
  5. ^ "Belgium to investigate 'targeted' synagogue explosion in Liege". Big News Network.com. Archived from the original on 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  6. ^ "Belgian Prosecutors Investigate Explosion at Synagogue". The Wall Street Journal. 9 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Two minors arrested in connection with suspected antisemitic arson in Antwerp". Reuters. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Terror probe over car-burning in Antwerp Jewish quarter". RTÉ News. Retrieved 30 March 2026.
  9. ^ Dylan (2026-03-24). "Car deliberately set on fire in Antwerp's Jewish district". European Jewish Congress. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
  10. ^ "Investigators believe antisemitism was motive in vandalism at Israeli restaurant in Munich". Associated Press. 10 April 2026.
  11. ^ "Israeli restaurant targeted in suspected antisemitic attack in Munich". Euronews. 10 April 2026.
  12. ^ Algemeiner, The. "Israeli Restaurant in Munich Targeted in Suspected Antisemitic Attack". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2026-04-11.
  13. ^ "Investigators believe antisemitism was motive in vandalism at Israeli restaurant in Munich". ABC News. Associated Press. 10 April 2026.
  14. ^ "Munich Israeli restaurant damaged in suspected antisemitic attack". The Independent. 10 April 2026.
  15. ^ "Dutch police probe suspected arson after explosion at Rotterdam synagogue". AP News. 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  16. ^ "Rotterdam synagogue targeted in arson as attacks on Jews rise amid Iran war". Haaretz. 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  17. ^ Sanou, Hanneke (2026-03-13). "Fire at Rotterdam synagogue was arson attack, four arrested". DutchNews.nl. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  18. ^ Ferguson, Donna (2026-03-14). "'Deliberate attack': explosion damages Jewish school in Amsterdam". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  19. ^ "Dutch police hunt suspect filmed setting off a blast outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam". AP News. 2026-03-14. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  20. ^ "Explosion lightly damages Jewish school in Amsterdam". Reuters. 2026-03-14. Retrieved 2026-03-14.
  21. ^ "Statement regarding the explosion at the Israel Center". Christians for Israel International. 2026-04-04. Retrieved 2026-04-12.
  22. ^ "Dutch police probe explosion outside a pro-Israel Christian center". Associated Press. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  23. ^ "Explosion hits pro-Israel center in the Netherlands". Agence France-Presse. 5 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026 – via Arab News.
  24. ^ "Netherlands police investigate explosion at pro-Israel center". CBS News. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 12 April 2026.
  25. ^ "Arson attack on Jewish charity ambulances being investigated by counter-terror police". BBC News. 2026-03-23. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
  26. ^ Algemeiner, The. "UK Police Arrest 3 More Men Over Arson Attack on Jewish Community Ambulances". Algemeiner.com. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  27. ^ Weaver, Matthew (26 March 2026). "Men bailed over suspected arson attack on Jewish ambulance service in London". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
  28. ^ "Antisemitic attacks on Jewish sites in London are 'abhorrent' says security minister". ITV News. 20 April 2026.
  29. ^ "British police probe possible Iran links after attacks on Jewish targets in London". Reuters. 21 April 2026.
  30. ^ Amos, Owen; Manning, Lucy (2026-04-29). "Two Jewish men seriously injured after being stabbed in Golders Green, north London". BBC News. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  31. ^ Specia, Megan (2026-04-29). "2 People Stabbed in North London, Jewish Charity Says". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  32. ^ Tait, Albert (29 April 2026). "Golders Green terror suspect 'had history of violence'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2026-04-29.
  33. ^ Manning, Lucy (May 18, 2026). "Jewish man 'kicked like animal' in Golders Green attack". BBC.
  34. ^ "Investigating Shots Fired at Synagogue". www.tps.ca. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  35. ^ "Jewish leaders demand action after 3 Toronto synagogue shootings in a week | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  36. ^ Wilson, Jermaine (2026-03-07). "'Disgusting acts of antisemitism': Chow speaks out after gunfire reported at North York synagogue". CTVNews. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  37. ^ "Discharge Firearm Investigation, Shaarei Shomayim Synagogue, Video Footage Request". www.tps.ca. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  38. ^ Tress, Luke (2026-03-06). "Anti-Zionist activists stage blood libel display near White House". The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  39. ^ "Antisemitic imagery at DC protest sparks backlash | The Jerusalem Post". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2025-11-21. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  40. ^ "Jewish groups slam antisemitic blood libel display at Union Station in Washington, DC". Israel National News. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  41. ^ "Opinion: The Blood Libel Never Went Away. Recently in Washington, D.C., It Went Viral". Washington Jewish Week. 2025-12-10. Archived from the original on 2025-12-10. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  42. ^ Lee, Henry (2026-03-08). "San Jose police investigate violent assault on two Jewish men at Santana Row". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  43. ^ Torres, Maria (2026-03-08). "Two Jewish men attacked in San Jose in possible hate crime". ABC7 News. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  44. ^ אמגר, הגר (2026-03-11). "תיעוד | תקיפה קשה בקליפורניה: "אל תתעסקו עם איראן"". N12 (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  45. ^ Williams, Cory; Durkin Richer, Alanna (2026-03-12). "Vehicle-ramming attack at Temple Israel synagogue in Michigan leaves attacker dead, guard injured". AP News. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  46. ^ Vileira, Luena Rodriguez-Feo; Clark, Nell; Pane, Lisa Marie. "Armed man rammed vehicle into Michigan synagogue and was fatally shot by security, AP source says". AP News. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  47. ^ Fitzgerald, Tom (2026-03-12). "Active shooter at Michigan synagogue, authorities say". Reuters. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  48. ^ Hutchinson, Bill (April 23, 2026). "Teen charged in conspiracy to attack Texas synagogue and 'kill as many Jews as possible': Prosecutors".
  49. ^ Fahy, Claire (May 14, 2026). "Flag With Swastikas and Star of David Flown at N.Y.U., Police Say". New York Times.
  50. ^ "Pro-Iran propaganda network gains traction with posts about Epstein". The Washington Post. 2026-03-10. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  51. ^ "Owens spreads 'false flag' conspiracy targeting Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 2026-03-04. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  52. ^ "Candace Owens Sparks Firestorm of Anger by Going All in on Claiming Israel Was Behind 9/11". Yahoo News. 2026-03-04. Retrieved 2026-04-06.
  53. ^ "CyberWell issues alerts as antisemitic trends surge after U.S.-Israel-Iran war begins". South Florida Sun Times. 2026-03-17. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  54. ^ "Cyberwell, Monitoring Social Media Antisemitism, Sees 1700% Spike In Calls To Kill Jews". 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  55. ^ "Antisemitism up 34% worldwide following Iran strikes". World Israel News. 2026-03-08. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
  56. ^ "CyberWell Issues Alerts as Antisemitic Trends Surge After U.S.-Israel-Iran War Begins". CyberWell. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
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