Comparisons between the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and the Holocaust have become increasingly common on social media in the year since the conflict began. Mentions surged by nearly 200% this week (the biggest spike this year), when a video went viral of Spanish parliament member Ione Belarra comparing Israel’s actions to Nazi gas chambers. According to analysis from FCAS' Command Center, the majority of this conversation was pushed by Millennials and Gen Z. Similarly, Canadian physician Dr. Gabor Maté compared the situation in Gaza to Auschwitz, describing it as “like watching Auschwitz on TikTok.” Also this week, stickers featuring the Israeli flag with a swastika replacing the Star of David were found near Harvard University.

 

According to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s working definition of antisemitism, using symbols and images associated with classical antisemitism to characterize Israel or Israelis, and drawing comparisons between Israeli policies and those of the Nazis, are both examples of contemporary antisemitism. FCAS' analysis shows that posts comparing Israel and its policies to Nazis and the Holocaust have increased by over 1,000% since the war began on October 7, 2023, with the sharpest spikes occurring during the first month. Many posts garnering millions of views compare the Gaza Strip to the Auschwitz death camp. Other posts openly equate Israel and Zionism with Nazi Germany and Nazi ideologies. One post, with 1.4 million views, reads, “Israel is basically the country that we were taught Nazi Germany was,” which diminishes the atrocities inflicted on European Jews during the Holocaust.

At a recent boat rally for Donald Trump and J.D. Vance, individuals associated with known neo-Nazi group held signs with the slogan "Reclaim America," along with swastika flags. This sparked widespread condemnation after videos and images from the event, including offensive symbols and slogans like "Make America White Again," surfaced online. The display of Nazi symbols has raised concerns about the presence of white supremacist at political events and their intention to spread more hate and further divide the American public.

 

While Trump distanced his campaign from these incidents, the situation reignited criticism regarding extremism within his supporter base. Critics, including his niece, Mary Trump, labeled the display as "sickening." In response, Trump's campaign dismissed the event as a "false flag" operation staged by liberal activists. Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, stated that Trump "abhors the hatred implied in these images," calling such behavior "unacceptable" and "against everything President Trump stands for."

 

The organizer of the event also posted a now deleted response on Facebook stating that the neo-Nazis who attended the event were not welcome and included a video of their boat being doused with water from another attendee. Neo-Nazis have a long track record of leveraging GOP politics to attempt to mainstream their extremist views.

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and public officials are working to combat misinformation, conspiracy theories, and antisemitic attacks related to the storms. False narratives have spread across social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), complicating FEMA’s efforts to deliver aid and ensure public safety. Antisemitic conspiracy theorists have spread posts alleging that FEMA’s response was orchestrated by Mossad, the IDF, and unnamed “Jewish interests.”

 

The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) found 33 posts containing claims debunked by FEMA and the White House that collectively garnered over 160 million views. 30% of the posts that were from X contained antisemitic hate, with attacks targeting officials like the Mayor of Asheville, NC, FEMA’s Director of Public Affairs, and the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The federal government has created web pages to debunk viral misinformation.

 

Conspiracy theorists have also amplified claims that the federal government can control the weather to target specific political groups, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene leading these accusations. Although her claims have been widely mocked and debunked by experts, they have still gained significant traction online, fueling mistrust in FEMA. While Greene’s posts vaguely mention that “they” can control the weather, many of her followers interpret “they” as a reference to Jewish people or Democrats.

 

The spread of misinformation is further exacerbated by social media companies’ inability or unwillingness to address the surge of false information.

 

Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, began at sundown on Friday, October 11, and ended at sundown on Saturday. Jews in America and around the world observed this solemn holiday, which concludes the 10 Days of Awe. However, this year’s observance was far from peaceful. It marked the first time since 1973 that Israel has been in a state of active war on Yom Kippur, and there has been a sharp rise in antisemitism and hate crimes against Jews globally.

 

In Toronto, shots were fired at a Jewish school during Yom Kippur, the second antisemitic attack in recent days. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned antisemitism as "a disgusting and dangerous form of hate" and expressed deep concern over the incident. In New York, Muhammad Hashim was detained after allegedly making antisemitic threats towards a Jewish man in Borough Park, a predominantly Jewish neighborhood in Brooklyn.

 

Meanwhile, in downtown Manhattan, a bomb threat disrupted Yom Kippur services at Town and Village Synagogue, prompting the evacuation of 400 congregants. Despite the disruption, attendees continued their prayers on the sidewalk, an inspiring show of resilience.

 

Sukkot, a week-long Jewish holiday that began this past Wednesday, commemorates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their 40 years of wandering in the desert. Traditionally, Jews observe the festival by constructing temporary shelters called sukkahs, where they gather to eat meals and sometimes sleep, symbolizing the impermanence of their ancestors’ dwellings.

 

At several universities across the US, student activists took advantage of the holiday to construct “Solidarity Sukkahs” to express support for Palestinians. At Columbia, members of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) built a “Liberation Sukkah.” Similarly, at Brown, the student group Jews for Ceasefire Now erected a “Gaza Solidarity Sukkah.” The group plans to spend nights in the sukkah throughout the holiday, hosting religious programming such as prayers, songs, and poetry. At Northwestern, members of JVP set up a sukkah with the same intention. University employees dismantled the structure the same evening, citing violations of the university’s display and solicitation policy.

 

 

 

 

FCAS is a nonpartisan, registered 501c3 non-profit organization. We do not support any political party or candidate. We never endorse candidates for office. We do call on everyone, regardless of political affiliation, to support the fight against Jewish hate and all hate.

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