Online antisemitism soars, with a 51-fold surge in antisemitic YouTube comments following Hamas’ attack

ISD research on the rise of online antisemitism in the aftermath of Hamas’ 7 October terrorist attack was covered by Euronews. The investigation, published last week, found that online antisemitism increased on both mainstream and fringe social media platforms since the conflict erupted. ISD Hate and Extremism Analyst, Hannah Rose, Senior Manager of Policy and Research, Jakob Guhl, Head of Policy and Research, Milo Comerford, identified a 51-fold increase in antisemitic YouTube comments in the four days after Hamas’ attack. Additionally, ISD identified a sustained increase in posts containing antisemitic keywords on alternative social media platforms including 4chan, Bitchute, Gab, and Telegram, with 4chan reporting the highest volume of antisemitic comments.

The article outlines our findings and comments identified by ISD included dehumanising language and conspiracy theories about Jewish power. Additionally, analysts found direct threats to Jewish figures and officials, graphic images and direct calls for violence. Other comments, however, fell into a grey area between legitimate criticism of Israel and antisemitism, using offensive language but not falling under the concrete examples of antisemitism provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s (IHRA) definition.

The full Dispatch is available on our website.