Toronto police announced that incidents of anti-Semitism and hate crimes against Muslims in Toronto, Canada’s largest city, have significantly increased in tandem with the conflict in Gaza, which followed Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th.
Mayor of Toronto Police Myron Demkiw stated in a release that the city witnessed 69 arrests and 173 charges related to hate crimes during that period.
The statement further revealed that since October 2023, Toronto has experienced 203 confirmed hate crimes, marking a 93% increase from the previous year.
Demkiw noted that hate crimes via phone calls decreased in December and January but spiked by 67% in February. Among the 84 hate crimes reported so far in 2024, 56% were anti-Semitic.
The war between Israel and Hamas erupted on October 7th after Hamas attacked towns in southern Israel, resulting in 1200 deaths and the taking of 253 hostages, according to Israeli statistics.
Israel responded with a military operation in Gaza, resulting in the deaths of over 31,000 Gaza residents, according to Palestinian health officials.
Speaking to reporters, Demkiw said, “While underreporting of all forms of hate crimes is a concern, I know from speaking to people in the city that Islamophobia is a significant concern, and looking at our statistics, I am concerned about the significant underreporting.”
The escalation in hate crimes underscores the need for heightened vigilance and efforts to combat discrimination and bigotry, particularly during periods of heightened geopolitical tension.
