Israel Faces Rising Antisemitism and Anti-Israel Attacks

Israel was ranked as the eighth most terrorism-impacted country in the 2025 Global Terrorism Index (GTI), according to the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP). While the country’s position dropped from second in the previous year, it marked a significant decrease in terrorism-related deaths. The IEP noted that the drop was largely due to the disproportionate impact of the October 7 massacre, which led to the highest number of global terrorism deaths in 2023.

Israel experienced the greatest decrease in terrorism-related fatalities from 2023 to 2024. While the 2023 massacre by Hamas led to a surge in global terrorism deaths, the adjusted data for 2024 would still have placed it among the highest terrorism death tolls since 2017.

The report highlighted that nearly a third of Western terrorist attacks were motivated by antisemitism or anti-Israel sentiment. In the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, antisemitic incidents surged, especially in the U.S., where reported anti-Jewish attacks rose by over 200%, with a shocking 270% increase in just two months following the massacre.

Regional and Global Terrorism Landscape

The IEP report reveals that the Sahel region has become the new epicenter of global terrorism, surpassing the Middle East and North Africa. Countries like Burkina Faso, which topped the terrorism index for the second year in a row, and Niger saw dramatic increases in violence, particularly with major attacks in 2024, such as the deadly attack in Niger on July 21, where 237 soldiers were killed.

In contrast, Iraq, Thailand, and Afghanistan saw a significant reduction in terrorist activity, with Iraq alone witnessing a 99% drop in deaths since 2007.

Lone-Wolf Attacks on the Rise

A concerning trend identified in the report is the rise of lone-wolf terrorism in the West. In 2024, 36% of terrorist attacks globally were not claimed by any organized group, with a notable uptick in lone-wolf attacks. These attacks, often carried out by youths with no formal ties to terrorist organizations, accounted for a significant portion of Western terrorism incidents. In fact, one in five individuals arrested in Europe for terrorism-related charges were minors.

The Role of ISIS and Antisemitism in Global Terrorism

The Islamic State (ISIS) and its affiliates remained the deadliest terrorist group in 2024, responsible for nearly 2,000 deaths across 22 countries. ISIS also emerged as the key source of incitement against Israelis and Jews, particularly after the October 7 attacks. The group’s media arm produced extensive propaganda calling for attacks on Jewish communities and Israeli interests worldwide.

Israel, in particular, faced several foiled ISIS plots in 2024, including five high-profile attempts that were thwarted. The ISIS-Khorasan Province (ISKP), which operates in Central Asia and Europe, expanded its reach and was responsible for one of the deadliest attacks in 2024, killing 144 people in Moscow.

Growing Antisemitism in the West

The IEP's findings indicate that antisemitism continues to rise in the West, with a record 31% of all terrorist attacks in the region in 2024 being motivated by antisemitic or anti-Israel sentiment. This alarming trend was particularly evident in the U.S., where antisemitic incidents surged dramatically, and in Europe, where attacks on Jewish communities and institutions became more frequent.