Anti-Semitic incidents surged in the United Kingdom last year, marking the largest increase among seven countries with significant Jewish populations outside Israel, according to a recent report by the J7 Large Communities’ Task Force Against Antisemitism. The group, which includes major Jewish diaspora organisations such as the Board of Deputies of British Jews, analyzed data from Argentina, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the UK, and the United States.

The report highlighted a 5 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in the UK during 2025, reaching approximately 3,700 cases. Alongside Britain, Argentina and Germany were the only countries to record an increase, with Argentina seeing a 4 percent rise and Germany less than 1 percent. The other nations studied reported declines, although all remained above pre-October 2023 levels.

Across these seven countries, incidents of anti-Semitism increased by 136 percent compared to 2022, the year before the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. The conflict that ensued, including Israel’s military operations in Gaza, has been linked to the rise in hostility. Violent anti-Semitic incidents also grew by 97 percent during this period.

The year was described as the deadliest in more than three decades for Jewish people outside of Israel, with 20 fatalities in the studied countries. Among the incidents in the UK was the stabbing death of Melvin Cravitz, 66, at Heaton Park synagogue in Manchester on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar. Another individual, Adrian Daulby, 53, was fatally injured during the same event. The report also noted multiple attacks in London, including firebombing incidents targeting Jewish ambulances in Golders Green, alongside similar events across Europe.

Germany recorded the highest rate of anti-Semitic incidents per 1,000 Jewish residents, followed by Australia and the UK. Australia experienced the steepest increase since 2021, with a 270 percent rise in incidents, including a deadly attack during a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach, Sydney, where 15 people were killed. U.S. prosecutors have linked a number of recent plots to Mohammad al-Saadi, alleged to be operating under the direction of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

British officials expressed concern at the growth of anti-Semitic violence. Housing and Communities Secretary Angela Rayner described the rise as “intolerable” and emphasized ongoing government efforts, in coordination with international partners, to combat anti-Semitism globally. Sir Keir Starmer recently announced a £250 million investment to enhance security and police presence in Jewish communities in the UK.

Campaigners and community leaders called for robust measures to address the surge. Phil Rosenberg of the Board of Deputies of British Jews stressed that the escalation should not be accepted as normal and highlighted the need for decisive government and societal action. Lord Mann, the UK Government’s independent adviser on anti-Semitism, urged a “clear, calm and methodical” response to the growing problem, warning that failure to confront the issue could exacerbate it.

The findings underscore ongoing challenges facing Jewish communities worldwide amid geopolitical tensions and underline the importance of coordinated efforts to counter anti-Semitism.