The Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom, Sir Ephraim Mirvis, has expressed his concerns regarding the widespread impact of the recent events in Israel on the Jewish community in the UK.
He stated that there are few Jewish families in the UK who remain untouched by the current situation, emphasizing the need for safety measures.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis described the present time as one of mourning, deep grief, and significant worry for the Jewish community. He further emphasized that all necessary steps must be taken to ensure the safety and security of the community.
The conflict in Israel has resulted in over 700 casualties, with more than 260 people losing their lives during a music festival attack. Israel has reported over 100 kidnappings, with most believed to be taken into Gaza. In response, Israel has declared war on the militant group Hamas, leading to bombardments in Gaza and the unfortunate death of nearly 500 Palestinians.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Rabbi Ephraim expressed the trauma and horror of the situation and appreciated the solidarity shown by many towards the Jewish community and Israel. He also highlighted the prevalence of antisemitism globally and characterized the recent events as one of the most terrible terrorist acts since World War Two.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has issued a warning about potential hate crimes, noting that past conflicts have led to an increase in antisemitism in the UK. They are in contact with the government to ensure police support for the Jewish community and encourage reporting of incidents to the police.
Police patrols have been increased in London following videos of apparent celebrations of the Hamas attack on Israel. Home Secretary Suella Braverman has called for a "zero tolerance" approach to antisemitism and terrorism glorification in the UK.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that the UK government is closely collaborating with Israeli authorities to determine the status of British nationals in the affected areas. He condemned the acts of terrorism and expressed horror at the situation in Israel. Photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Wikimedia commons.