More than half of all confirmed hate crimes in New York City during the first quarter of 2026 were antisemitic, according to new data released by the New York Police Department, reports The Jerusalem Post.
Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that 55% of confirmed hate crimes — 78 out of 143 incidents — targeted Jews, despite Jewish residents making up roughly 10% of the city’s population.
Overall, confirmed hate crimes increased by 11.7% compared to the same period last year.
The figures come alongside a new reporting system introduced by the NYPD, which distinguishes between “reported” hate crimes and those officially “confirmed” following investigation by the department’s Hate Crimes Task Force.
Under the revised system, incidents are first flagged and then assessed to determine whether they meet the legal threshold for classification as a hate crime under New York State law. For example, in March 2026, 42 incidents targeting Jews were reported, but 32 were ultimately confirmed — a slight decrease compared to March 2025.
Despite the rise in hate crimes, the city reported broader improvements in public safety. Major crime fell by 5.3%, while burglaries dropped by over 20%, reaching one of the lowest levels on record.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the data showed that the city’s policing strategy was delivering results overall, even as concerns remain about the high proportion of antisemitic incidents.
The figures reinforce ongoing concerns about the disproportionate targeting of Jewish communities in hate crime statistics, a trend that has been observed across multiple cities in recent years.
Photo credit: REUTERS/JEENAH MOON
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