A pro-Hamas march in London, United Kingdom, Feb. 17, 2024. Photo: Chrissa Giannakoudi via Reuters Connect

The aftermath of Hamas’ brutal assault on Oct. 7th, 2023 — resulting in 1,200 deaths and leaving Israel shaken — has exposed a concerning global trend.

The Jewish State, defending itself against an existential threat, finds itself under fire from well-known adversaries — but also from nations that have long been considered allies.

A troubling shift in rhetoric and policy reveals a prevalent bias against Israel, calling into question the commitment of Western democracies to principles of fairness and justice.

Across Europe, protests and political narratives blur the distinction between valid criticism of Israeli war tactics and outright bigotry. The United Kingdom has seen over 100,000 people march in pro-Palestinian rallies since the October attacks, many of which support Hamas and call for violence against Jews.

While these events often claim to advocate for Palestinian rights, chants such as “From the river to the sea” — a call for Israel’s destruction — are alarmingly common, as are acts of physical violence. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has refrained from condemning such slogans despite growing concerns from Jewish communities about a surge in antisemitism.

France has seen a similar spike in bigotry, with hundreds of antisemitic incidents reported in the past year alone. Jewish schools and synagogues have been targeted, further alienating Jewish citizens.

Meanwhile, in Spain, prominent left-wing politicians like Ernest Urtasun have framed Israel as the aggressor, while failing to condemn Hamas’ war crimes, and Hamas’ use of human shields and hostage-taking. Selective outrage, as seen in Spain, underscores a troubling trend in Western Europe, where anti-Israel activism often spills over into antisemitism.

In the United States, a historical stronghold of support for Israel, cracks are appearing, particularly within the Democratic Party. Numerous Democratic lawmakers have pushed for ceasefires without acknowledging Hamas’ use of civilians as human shields — or repeating President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ promise that Hamas will not be allowed to retain power in Gaza. Not only that, but some Democrats are blaming support for Israel for their resounding defeat in a presidential election that had nothing to do with foreign policy.

The Biden administration faces mounting pressure from progressive lawmakers to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza, even as Hamas diverts billions into its war effort, instead of civilian needs.

Figures like Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) have refused to condemn Hamas’ atrocities, focusing their criticism entirely on Israel. College campuses, including prestigious institutions like Harvard University and Columbia University, have become antisemitic breeding grounds, with some faculty and student groups openly supporting terrorist attacks, and censoring and assaulting Jewish students.

According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), antisemitic incidents in the US increased by 360% in the past year, a rise closely tied to anti-Israel propaganda.

Beyond individual nations, international institutions like the United Nations have amplified this bias. Since 2015, the UN has passed more than 140 resolutions targeting Israel, compared to a mere handful addressing human rights abuses by Hamas or Hezbollah. These resolutions, framed as calls for accountability, fail to acknowledge Hamas’ deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians and its documented use of human shields.

The UN is attacking Israel because it’s a country of Jews — or else those 140 resolutions would also have been passed against Russia, Afghanistan, North Korea, and the countries of the world that actually are committing war crimes and grave human rights abuses.

Bigotry against Israel also extends to economic measures, with support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel growing across Europe. This campaign attempts to systematically undermine Israel’s economy and erode its international standing, often disregarding the oppressive regimes and terrorist organizations in the region that perpetuate the conflict.

Israel’s battle is not only against terrorism, but also against an international narrative infused with hypocrisy and bias. Nations that claim to foster human rights must recognize the security needs of the world’s only Jewish state. Defaming Israel undermines its right to defend its citizens and fails to respect a democratic nation.

The international community must move beyond its selective outrage and hold all parties accountable. Criticizing Israel while ignoring Hamas’ atrocities is not advocacy for peace — instead, it is continuing the cycle of violence.

In this climate of rising hostility, Israel stands not only for its survival, but for the principles of truth, justice, and the universal right of every nation to defend itself against terror. The world must resist promoting bias and uphold democratic values before the damage to Israel becomes irreparable.