Anti-Muslim hate crimes in UK up 165% over 2 years amid Gaza war, report shows

Anti-Muslim hate crimes and incidents in the United Kingdom reached a record high in 2024 amid Israel’s offensive in Gaza, a report has revealed.

According to Tel MAMA, an organisation which monitors hate and assaults on Muslims within the UK, data that it compiled showed that 5,837 anti-Muslim hate cases took place last year, in comparison to 3,767 cases in 2023 and 2,201 the year before that.

With those incidents having been both online and in person, the increase marked a sharp rise of 165 per cent within only two years.

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In a statement, the organisation attributed the drastic increase to Israel’s 15-month-long offensive in the Gaza Strip, littered with numerous war crimes, human rights violations and the breaking of international law.

“The Middle East conflict super-fuelled online anti-Muslim hate,” Tell MAMA stated, asserting that “the Israel and Gaza War, the [UK’s] Southport murders and riots… created a surge in anti-Muslim hate cases.”

The organisation’s Director Iman Atta urged the public “to stand together against hatred and extremism, and we urge those in positions of influence and public authority to consider how their language risks stereotyping communities.”

Anti-Muslim hate crimes in the UK hit record high in 2024 [Ufuk Celal Güze/Anadolu Agency]

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