The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG) and the GRA Foundation Against Racism and Antisemitism report a significant rise in antisemitic attacks in the country, including physical assaults and an attempted murder. Jewish communities increasingly feel unsafe, with incidents becoming more frequent and severe.
Antisemitic incidents in the real world were consistently and significantly more frequent throughout the year than before the Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, 2023. A total of 221 cases were recorded in 2024 (2023: 155, 2022: 57), reflecting a 42.5% increase from the previous year and a staggering 287% rise compared to 2022. The year saw 11 physical assaults (2023: 10, 2022: 1), whereas prior to 2023, only one or no assaults were reported annually.
The number of antisemitic statements surged dramatically, reaching 103 cases (2023: 38, 2022: 6). Insults slightly declined to 42 (2023: 47, 2022: 16), while graffiti incidents remained nearly unchanged at 44 (2023: 42, 2022: 9). Appearances (2024: 10, 2023: 8, 2022: 1) and posters/banners (2024: 9, 2023: 10, 2022: 1) also showed minimal variation. For the first time in several years, two cases of property damage were reported in 2024 (2023/2022: 0). Across all categories, the data indicates an exponential rise in antisemitic incidents compared to the period before October 7, 2023.
Since early 2024, new search software has been implemented for digital monitoring, scanning public social media platforms, online media comment sections, and websites for specific terms while identifying whether the posts originate from Switzerland. This enhanced monitoring has resulted in a higher number of recorded incidents, making comparisons with previous years’ online data unreliable.
In 2024, a total of 1,596 online antisemitic incidents were documented through this methodology and external reports. Telegram remained the primary platform for such incidents, accounting for 890 cases (55.7% of all online incidents). Notably, 300 incidents were identified in comment sections of sixteen different online newspapers, highlighting an urgent need for stronger moderation due to the serious antisemitic content being disseminated. Among traditional social media platforms, TikTok emerged as a key source, registering 103 incidents. In total, 1,817 antisemitic incidents were reported or observed across all channels.
Impact of October 2023 Events:
The aftermath of Hamas’s 7 October 2023 attack continues to fuel antisemitism. Jewish individuals are frequently blamed for Israel’s policies and subjected to verbal abuse, conspiracy theories, and violent attacks. The radical pro-Palestinian movement accounted for the largest share of recorded incidents, though antisemitism was also found among far-right and far-left extremists, Islamists, and conspiracy theorists.
Call for Action:
Jewish life in Switzerland faces growing threats. Many Jews conceal their identity in public due to safety concerns. SIG and GRA urge immediate government measures, including:
- Strengthening security for Jewish institutions.
- Implementing a national antisemitism strategy.
- Addressing online hate speech and enforcing digital platform regulations.
- Enhancing education and awareness campaigns against antisemitism.
Decisive action is necessary to combat rising antisemitism and ensure the safety of Switzerland’s Jewish communities.
