### Violent Attack on Gaza Hostage Awareness Group in Boulder Heightens US Jewish Community's Fears

A devastating attack on a group advocating for hostages held in Gaza has added to the mounting anxiety within the North American Jewish community. On Sunday, in Boulder, Colorado, Mohammed Sabry Soliman allegedly threw incendiary devices at members of the organization Run For Their Lives, injuring 12 people. Soliman, according to court documents, had been planning the attack for a year and expressed a desire to "kill all Zionist people."

This incident follows other recent anti-Semitic attacks, exacerbating concerns among Jewish Americans. Just weeks earlier, a couple was fatally shot outside the Capitol Jewish Museum in Washington, DC. The victims were employees of the Israeli embassy attending an event at the museum. Additionally, in April, the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set ablaze shortly after he celebrated the first night of Passover.

Adina Vogel Ayalon from J Street, a pro-Israel advocacy group, noted a significant rise in fear among Jewish communities. “Jews are feeling the impact and are more afraid than they were two weeks ago,” she said, explaining that such hate crimes seem to disregard individuals' political views on the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

The attack spree is seen as evidence of growing antisemitism amid the contentious Israel-Hamas conflict, which began on 7 October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel, leading to the death of approximately 1,200 people and the kidnapping of 251 hostages. The ensuing war has drawn significant international scrutiny, particularly toward Israel's military actions which, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, have resulted in over 50,000 deaths.

The Boulder attack has prompted responses beyond the Jewish community. The Muslim Public Affairs Council condemned the violence, emphasizing that "acts of antisemitism have no place in our society." They further highlighted the threat such attacks pose to societal values of pluralism and safety for all faiths.

Run For Their Lives, which organizes weekly marches and meetings nationwide to advocate for the release of Gaza hostages, is typically an apolitical group. Shira Weiss, the global coordinator, explained that the group’s gatherings are open to people from diverse backgrounds, regardless of their political stance on the Israeli government. She admitted that although safety has always been a priority, they never anticipated such a severe attack.

This resurgence of antisemitic violence recalls previous attacks targeting Jewish communities, such as the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue shooting and the 2019 Poway, California attack. These incidents have once again raised questions about the security of Jewish individuals and institutions across the US. Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, voiced the community’s increasing concerns over personal and institutional security, saying, "There's a sense that what happened in DC and Boulder could have occurred anywhere."

In a bid to enhance security, the Jewish Colorado organization has initiated a fundraiser targeting $160,000 to support increased security for Boulder’s Jewish community and aid for the victims. Rabbi Dan Moskovitz, a frequent participant in Run For Their Lives events, expressed fears that the Boulder incident might not be isolated, potentially inspiring further radicalization and violence.

Meanwhile, tensions and conflicts over media reports on the situation in Gaza continue. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently criticized the BBC for its coverage of Israeli military actions in Gaza, although the BBC stands by its reporting. BBC Verify is currently investigating deadly incidents tied to Gaza's controversial aid sites.