The Middle East has been a region of conflict for centuries, and the recent hostilities between Israel and Hamas have been no exception. In the United States, the reverberations of this conflict have been felt in the form of an increase in threats to Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have issued an updated advisory, warning that the frequency and volume of threats have increased in the past week. These threats have included hoax bomb threats targeting houses of worship and violent rhetoric online encouraging attacks against the Jewish, Arab American, and Muslim communities.
The advisory also pointed to the October 14 stabbing attack in Illinois that killed a 6-year-old Palestinian American boy and severely wounded his mother. In response to this attack, law enforcement agencies across the country, including in New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, increased police patrols and other security measures.
The DHS and FBI advisory states that the biggest threat continues to come from “violent extremists and lone offenders motivated by or reacting to ongoing events.” While there is no specific information that foreign adversaries are plotting attacks against the United States, some are seeking to take advantage of the conflict, calling for violence in furtherance of their respective goals.
For example, al-Qaida called for people to support Hamas by attacking American military bases, airports, and embassies on October 13. The Islamic State terror group also posted on social media on October 19, urging followers to target the Jewish presence all over the world, “especially Jewish neighborhoods in America and Europe.”
Officials have also raised concerns about Iran, accusing Iranian-backed media of amplifying mis- and disinformation to English-speaking audiences. This includes verifiably doctored or mislabeled images and video footage, inaccurate translations, and misleading content, all of which are used to stoke passions, accelerate the process of radicalization, and lead individuals to engage in targeted violence.
Separately, an apparent memo from U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently warned that operatives with links to three U.S.-designated terrorist organizations—Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and Hezbollah—might try to enter the U.S. along its southern border. While officials have declined to confirm the authenticity of the memo, they have stated that there is no indication of Hamas-directed foreign fighters seeking to make entry into the United States.
In the face of these threats, the United States has taken a number of steps to protect its citizens. Law enforcement agencies have increased police patrols and other security measures, and the DHS and FBI have issued an updated advisory to warn of the increased threats. The United States has also designated all three of the terrorist organizations mentioned in the memo as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
The United States is committed to protecting its citizens from any threat, and the recent increase in threats to Jewish, Arab, and Muslim communities is no exception. The United States is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of its citizens, and is working to prevent any further violence or threats.
