The terror and the consequences
A year ago on October 7, 2023, terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups killed more than 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped around 250 others as hostages in the Gaza Strip.
This was the trigger for the Gaza war, in which, according to the Hamas-controlled health authority, around 42,000 Palestinians have been killed so far, around a third of them children and young people.
Anti-Semitic crimes tripled
Strobl said the police in the country are vigilant ahead of October 7, 2024. “Our security authorities are monitoring the security situation very closely and taking action where necessary.” According to the ministry, meetings in Baden-Württemberg were announced on Monday in Freiburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Konstanz, Mannheim, Stuttgart and Ulm, among others.
What is frightening for Strobl is that anti-Semitic crimes have skyrocketed since the Hamas attack: According to the ministry, with 260 anti-Semitic crimes in Baden-Württemberg, the number has more than tripled in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period last year.
Physical attacks are still the exception. But damage to property or hate crimes are also unacceptable and will be consistently punished.
