Anti-Semitic Incidents on UK Campuses Rise 14% in 2025-26 Academic Year

Threats to run over, swastikas and curses: campus anti-Semitism worsens

Anti-Semitic incidents on UK university campuses have risen significantly, according to a report by the Community Security Trust (CST), the leading organization tracking anti-Semitism in the UK. The report, titled “Anti-Semitism on UK campuses 2024-2026,” documents 178 university-related anti-Semitic incidents over the two academic years, with 83 in 2024-25 and 95 in 2025-26. This represents a 14% increase from the previous year, though the figure remains lower than the sharp spike seen during the 2023-2024 academic year, when 272 incidents were reported following the October 7 massacre.

The report highlights that injurious behavior accounts for 84% of all university incidents, including verbal assaults, face-to-face anti-Semitic comments, online anti-Semitic content, graffiti, and incidents targeting Jewish students, staff, and organizations. For the first time, CST documented two cases of extreme violence, including an attack that could result in loss of life or serious bodily harm. These incidents occurred in Edinburgh and Leeds, alongside damage to Jewish property, threats, and anti-Semitic literature.

Clashes between students and staff, as well as between staff members, were also recorded. Notably, incidents committed by staff were more likely to reference the Holocaust, Nazis, or Hitler, with 56% of such incidents making these references compared to 23% of other university incidents. Additionally, 38% of staff-related incidents explicitly compared Israel to Nazis, a rate significantly higher than the 10% seen in other incidents.

The report indicates that anti-Semitic incidents occurred at 52 institutions of higher education across 27 cities, with a higher incidence rate in institutions with larger Jewish populations. In the first three months of the academic year, 42% of all anti-Semitic incidents were recorded, a significantly higher percentage than in other quarters. CST attributes this rise to the activities of new students, the visibility of Jewish life through student associations, commemorative days, and memory activities related to October 7, and a new wave of activism.

The report underscores the persistent challenges faced by Jewish students and staff, with threats, curses, and physical intimidation becoming increasingly common. While the CST report does not attribute these incidents to any specific group or ideology, it highlights the broader context of rising anti-Semitic sentiment in the UK, which mirrors global trends. The report serves as a call to action for universities, governments, and communities to address the root causes of such hatred and to protect vulnerable individuals.

The CST’s findings align with broader concerns about the normalization of anti-Semitic rhetoric and behavior, particularly in academic settings. As the report notes, the visibility of Jewish life and the heightened political climate have contributed to an environment where anti-Semitic expressions can thrive. This reality calls for vigilance, education, and a commitment to justice and peace, as seen in Micah 6:8, which urges people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Hebrew)