Global surge in deadly antisemitism: 21 lives lost in 2025
A sobering report released by the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism has revealed a “sharp and deadly” escalation in violence against Jewish communities worldwide over the past year.
Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli
Unveiled yesterday at the International Conference on Combating Antisemitism in Jerusalem—timed to coincide with International Holocaust Remembrance Day—the interim findings paint a grim picture of the safety of Jews on a global scale.
A Lethal Escalation
The data indicates that 2025 was marked by a terrifying shift from online rhetoric to physical fatality. The ministry documented 815 severe incidents, including the murders of 21 Jews. This represents a staggering increase from 2024, which saw one confirmed death.
While the total number of reported incidents technically dipped compared to the previous year, officials warned against complacency. The ministry suggested this “decline” likely stems from the normalization of hate or significant underreporting rather than an actual increase in safety.
The Geography of Hate
The report identified five Western nations as the primary hubs for these incidents:
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United States
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United Kingdom
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France
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Australia
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Canada
Beyond physical violence, the ministry tracked a massive surge in digital hostility, recording roughly 124 million antisemitic posts on X (formerly Twitter). Additionally, of the 4,000 anti-Israel demonstrations held globally, 365 were classified as posing an “extreme risk” to local Jewish populations.
“From Defence to Offense”
Minister of Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli called for a paradigm shift in how the world handles hate speech and violence.
“We are required not only to remember but to act,” Chikli stated. “The global community must move from a defensive to an offensive stance. Antisemitism is a threat that endangers the entire free world.”
President Isaac Herzog echoed these sentiments, noting that while the “plague” of antisemitism has taken on modern forms—including the use of manipulated AI imagery and fake news—the underlying “poison” remains the same. Herzog specifically addressed the delegitimisation of the Jewish state, calling it a modern manifestation of ancient prejudice.
A Global Coalition
The conference, titled “Generation Truth,” drew an international roster of high-profile leaders committed to cross-border cooperation, including:
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Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania
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Sebastian Kurz, former Chancellor of Austria
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Scott Morrison, former Prime Minister of Australia
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Flávio and Eduardo Bolsonaro of Brazil
The summit continues at the Jerusalem International Convention Centre, with sessions focused on dismantling the digital “information sphere” that currently fuels radicalisation and physical attacks.
