In the wake of a horrific attack by Hamas terrorists earlier this month, a troubling trend has emerged involving protesters who insist Israel was to blame for the death and destruction it endured at the hands of the Palestinian militants.
While much of this rhetoric has been confined to Middle Eastern nations, a growing number of anti-Israel demonstrations — and even acts of violence — have been reported across Europe and in other areas with a significant population of Islamic immigrants.
One such example involves an asylum seeker in the United Kingdom who was arrested last week on suspicion of carrying out a terrorist attack in revenge for Israel’s military response to Hamas.
Although U.K. authorities declined to provide many details about the suspect or the alleged terror scheme, a report in the Telegraph confirmed that the suspect “said after his arrest that he had done it because Israel had killed children in Gaza.”
Some officials have demanded additional information about the security threat against civilians, but one insider speculated: “They may be downplaying it so that they don’t have repeat attacks or copycat attacks.”
Of course, the terrorist attack in the U.K. was not the first example of pro-Palestine violence in Europe following the Hamas attack in Israel. After a former leader of the terror group called on like-minded militants to stage a “Day of Rage” earlier this month, an asylum seeker in France reportedly shouted an Islamic phrase commonly used by jihadists before fatally stabbing a Jewish teacher and seriously wounding at least two others.
In Belgium, a terrorist with links to ISIS fatally shot two Swedish citizens who were visiting Brussels for a soccer game.
Similar acts have been reported elsewhere around the world, including China, where a diplomat from Israel was stabbed but survived the attack.
The U.S. Department of State has cited “increased tensions in various locations around the world, the potential for terrorist attacks, demonstrations or violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests” as the impetus for its “worldwide caution” advisory to Americans traveling abroad.
The @StateDept updated its Travel Advisory for Iraq on October 20, 2023, following the ordered departure of eligible family members and non-emergency U.S. government personnel from U.S. Embassy Baghdad @USEmbBaghdad and U.S. Consulate General Erbil @USCGERBIL due to increased… pic.twitter.com/NVOzPohl6Q
— Travel – State Dept (@TravelGov) October 22, 2023
The warning calls for “increased caution” in tourist areas and strict “do not travel” advisories for nations including Iraq and Lebanon.
