Police to step up patrols in Britain’s Jewish communities amid fears violence in Israel could spark series of antisemitic attacks

Police officers are to step up patrols in Britain’s Jewish communities after the largest conflict for years between Israel and Palestinian militants broke out on Saturday, amid fears it could lead to a rise in antisemitic attacks.

Conversations have been held between the Home Office and the Community Security Trust (CST) which resulted in the decision to increase footfall to reassure local communities, the CST confirmed to MailOnline.

It comes after militant Islamist group Hamas launched an attack on Israel overnight on Friday, claiming to have fired 5,000 rockets before militants poured across the border, seemingly taking Israel completely by surprise.

In just 12 hours almost 400 people are confirmed to have died, with a further 2,610 injured in both Israel and the Gaza Strip.

The news comes amid fears the new escalation could seriously destabilise the region and result in an extended conflict after Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu told Hamas they are now ‘at war’.

In just 12 hours almost 400 people are confirmed to have died, with a further 2,610 injured in both Israel and the Gaza Strip

Hamas militants began their attack early on Saturday and appeared to take the Israelis completely by surprise

Hamas claimed to have fired 5,000 rockets into Israel from the occupied Gaza Strip, setting off air raid sirens in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem

Since the Hamas incursion, which began on a Jewish holiday, talks between Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the Home Office and CST have been held remotely to assess the risk of retaliation upon the UK’s Jewish community. 

During the 2021 Gaza-Israel conflict, which began in early May, the CST documented a record 628 hate incidents directed towards British Jews between early May and early June, a fourfold increase on the same period the previous year.

The latest statistics on hate crimes, released this week, show a rise in religious-based hate crimes in 2022-23 in the UK.

Jewish communities are the second-most hit by religious-based hate crimes, accounting for 17 percent of all those recorded. 

After the scale of the Hamas attack became clear, British politicians rushed to support their own communities and the public.

Rishi Sunak said: ‘I am shocked by this morning’s attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli citizens. 

‘Israel has an absolute right to defend itself. We’re in contact with Israeli authorities, and British nationals in Israel should follow travel advice.’

Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer said: ‘I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens. 

‘There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region. Israel has a right to defend herself.’

Since the Hamas incursion, which began on a Jewish holiday, talks between Home Secretary Suella Braverman (pictured), the Home Office and CST have been held remotely

Israeli police officers evacuate a family from a site hit by a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip, in Ashkelon, southern Israel, Saturday, October 7, 2023

Palestinians wave their national flag and celebrate by a destroyed Israeli tank at the Gaza Strip fence east of Khan Younis southern Saturday, October 7, 2023

A woman and child are evacuated from the site of a rocket attack in southern Israel on Saturday

Meanwhile Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: ‘The barbaric attack by Hamas terrorists this morning against the Israeli people is sickening. 

‘The UK unequivocally supports Israel’s right to defend its borders and its citizens from this evil.’

The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan explicitly acknowledge the risk of increased levels of antisemitism.

He said: ‘The news coming out of Israel is deeply distressing. I condemn the terrorist acts of Hamas and my thoughts are with those affected and those who have lost loved ones.

‘Tragically, we know that violence in the Middle East can lead to a rise in hate crime in London. I’m in touch with senior officers at the Met and communities across our city. Let me be clear – hate crime in London will not be tolerated. Now or ever.’

Ugly scenes from Israel appear to show Hamas militants abducting women, children and even entire families off the streets and ferrying them back towards the Gaza strip.

Meanwhile both sides are continuing to fire rockets at one another, with active fighting going on in 22 different locations.

Rockets appear to have hit targets in both the Gaza Strip and Israel itself, with multiple reports of fires and explosions in Tel Aviv. 

Meanwhile the Israeli Minister of Energy and Infrastructure has ordered the immediate suspension of power to the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians celebrate after an Israeli tank was hit by Hamas gunmen who infiltrated the south of the country, on the Israeli side of the Israel-Gaza border

Israeli medical teams evacuate an injured person from the southern city of Sderot, close to the border with the Gaza Strip

A man carries a crying child as they walk past a building destroyed by an Israeli air strike in Gaza City

People flee as clashes flare between Palestinian groups and Israeli forces in Gaza City following the earlier air strikes

Palestinians are greeted by crowds after returning from crossing the border into Israel

Gaza’s power authority says 80 percent of Gaza electricity supplies have been shut following Israel’s announcement.

The Gaza Strip is one of the most densely populated places in the world, with around two million people packed into 140 square miles. But it depends on Israel for water, electricity, telecommunications, and other utilities, and imports are carefully controlled by the occupying country.

Conflict between Israel and Palestinians has been going on for decades, but this is the deadliest attack in years, leading to fears it could start an ongoing war. 

From Israel’s perspective, the surprise attack has been ‘humiliating’, undermining intelligence efforts and overwhelming the Iron Dome defence system, which is far superior to Gaza’s own anti-missile defences. 

The Home Office has been contacted for comment.