The Middle East has been a hotbed 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) issued an advisory late Wednesday, warning that the “volume and frequency 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 issued a call on October 13 for people to support Hamas by attacking American military bases, airports, and embassies. 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.”
Additionally, officials have raised concerns about Iran, accusing Iranian-backed media of amplifying mis- and disinformation to English-speaking audiences with what the advisory describes as “verifiably doctored or mislabeled images and video footage, inaccurate translations, and misleading content … 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. Officials have declined to confirm the authenticity of the memo but told VOA, “CBP has seen no indication of Hamas-directed foreign fighters seeking to make entry into the United States.”
In light of these threats, the DHS and FBI are urging all Americans to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. They also encourage people to take steps to protect themselves and their families, such as staying informed about current events, being aware of their surroundings, and reporting any suspicious activity to the authorities.
The DHS and FBI are also working with state and local law enforcement to ensure that all communities are safe and secure. They are providing training and resources to help law enforcement agencies identify and respond to potential threats.
The United States is committed to protecting the safety and security of all its citizens, regardless of their faith or ethnicity. The DHS and FBI are working hard to ensure that all Americans are safe and secure, and that those who seek to do harm are brought to justice.
