Surge in Antisemitic Incidents in French-Speaking Switzerland Linked to Gaza War, Report Reveals

(TJV NEWS) A dramatic rise in antisemitism was recorded in French-speaking Switzerland in 2024, with nearly 2,000 incidents reported—a staggering 90 percent increase from the previous year. This spike follows the Hamas-led massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023, which has had a profound impact on the Swiss Jewish community. According to a report by the Intercommunity Coordination Against Antisemitism and Defamation (CICAD), 1,789 antisemitic incidents were recorded, marking the highest number since 2014, The Algemeiner reported.

The CICAD report revealed that more than half (52.5%) of the antisemitic incidents were “traditional” forms of hatred, while 14.4% were related to anti-Zionism. Unlike previous years, where online hate speech dominated, 2024 saw a disturbing escalation involving physical violence, threats, and attacks on Jewish properties such as homes, businesses, and synagogues.

Among the most concerning cases was an attack in Geneva, where a 10-year-old Jewish girl was punched, kicked, and verbally abused by classmates while they filmed the incident. In Lausanne, a Jewish man was assaulted in a supermarket, with the assailant shouting “You are the terrorists!” In addition, Jewish families were subjected to disturbing threats, such as one threatening letter that told a family to “leave before it’s too late.”

The report also pointed to rising antisemitic attacks on Jewish professionals, with an office of a Jewish lawyer broken into and defaced with hateful messages. Furthermore, the rise in antisemitic acts targeted Jewish students in schools and universities, where Nazi salutes and verbal abuse were reported. Pro-Palestinian demonstrations following the Hamas-led attacks also escalated tensions, with some calling for the eradication of the Jewish state.

The CICAD’s report underscores the growing role of social media in spreading antisemitic content, with over 70 percent of incidents linked to platforms like Instagram, Telegram, and X. These platforms’ anonymity and viral nature have allowed antisemitic messages to proliferate widely.

In response to the troubling rise in antisemitism, Swiss Jewish communities are calling for urgent action to address the escalating violence and hate, which has now become a national concern. The Algemeiner reports that the need for effective measures to protect Jewish communities in Switzerland is more pressing than ever.