Since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the conflict in Gaza, Denmark has witnessed a surge in antisemitic incidents not seen since World War II. The head of Denmark's Jewish community revealed that the number of reported incidents has reached alarming levels.
The Jewish Community in Denmark, consisting of 1,800 members, has reported a significant increase in antisemitic acts. The situation has been described as the most severe wave of antisemitism since 1943, during the Nazi occupation of Denmark.
Following the recent escalation, the community's security organization documented a total of 121 antisemitic incidents. These figures align with similar reports from other European countries, indicating a continent-wide rise in antisemitism.
Henri Goldstein, the community leader, emphasized that the antisemitic wave has been exacerbated by the proliferation of hatred on social media platforms. He clarified that the incidents were primarily acts of Jew-hatred and not merely criticisms of Israel.
Of the 121 reported incidents, 20 involved death threats, marking a concerning development not seen since the 1980s. In response to the heightened risks, Jews in Denmark have been advised against openly displaying Jewish symbols.
The majority of the cases involved hate messages, with over half of them originating online. Goldstein highlighted that many antisemitic incidents go unreported, suggesting that the actual number could be higher.
Denmark's history during World War II, where the majority of the Jewish population was saved from the Holocaust through a daring rescue mission to Sweden, adds a poignant context to the current situation. The country's Jewish community, currently numbering around 7,000 individuals, is facing a challenging period marked by rising antisemitism.
As the conflict in Gaza continues to impact communities worldwide, the surge in antisemitic acts in Denmark underscores the need for heightened vigilance and efforts to combat hatred and discrimination.
