The FBI is warning Americans that the coming anniversary of the surprise October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel could inspire “violent attacks” within the U.S.
A public service announcement released by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday warns of “potential threats in the United States from a variety of actors in response to the one-year anniversary of the HAMAS attacks on Israel.”
The announcement warns that Monday’s anniversary could “be a motivating factor for violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators to engage in violence or threaten public safety,” pointing out that “violent extremist activity” has been observed since the ongoing Israel-Hamas war began.
“Large public gatherings, such as memorials, vigils, or other lawful demonstrations, present attractive targets for violent attacks or for hoax threats by a variety of threat actors, including violent extremists and hate crime perpetrators,” the announcement states.
“Such actors may view the anniversary as an opportunity to conduct an attack or other high-profile, illegal activity,” it continues.
The announcement goes on to suggest that terrorists “likely will continue to exploit narratives related to the conflict to call for lone attackers to conduct violence in the United States” and “could motivate threat actors across ideologies, including those who espouse violent anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, to engage in violence.”
No specific threats related to October 7 were noted in the FBI/DHS announcement.
The FBI declined Newsweek’s request for comment on Friday.
While antisemitic incidents have been repeatedly reported amid pro-Palestinian protests at U.S. college campuses and elsewhere since the Israel-Hamas war began, there have been no U.S. terrorist attacks tied to Hamas.
The initial October 7 Hamas attack on Israel killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. Gaza’s Ministry of Health says that over 41,000 people have been killed since then in ongoing retaliatory strikes by Israel.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict quickly expanded beyond Gaza, with Lebanon-based militant group Hezbollah launching cross-border strikes on Israel shortly after war erupted.
A series of recent attacks, including Israeli strikes on Beirut that killed Hezbollah commander Hassan Nasrallah and several of the group’s other leaders, have further escalated the conflict and sparked fears of a wider regional war.
Iran, which supports and funds both Hezbollah and Hamas, launched a barrage of missiles at Israel earlier this week, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to vow that Iran would “pay” for the attack.
