UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced Wednesday his pledge to provide new funding aimed at safeguarding Jewish communities. The announcement came amidst a surge in antisemitic incidents in the country, following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Sunak committed to providing more than £70 million over the next four years as part of the Jewish Community Protective Security Grant.

The Home Office confirmed this as their “largest-ever financial commitment to tackle antisemitism.” The funding comes in addition to £18 million already provided to the Community Security Trust (CST) between 2024-2025. The CST is a British charitable organization and advisory body devoted to combating antisemitism and offering security support to Jewish communities. The funding will provide enhanced security measures, including security guards, CCTV and alarm systems at Jewish educational sites, community centers and synagogues.

CST’s annual 2023 report, which revealed an increase of 147 percent in anti-Jewish hate incidents following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, highlighting the pressing need for government action. Sunak denounced the prevalence of prejudice and racism, labeling it as pure “hatred” and an “assault on the Jewish people.” Home Secretary James Cleverly echoed Sunak as deploying the “full force of the law” to ensure the safety and freedom of Jewish individuals.

CST has since posted on X (formerly Twitter), commending the government’s actions and suggesting that the “strong partnerships with MPs, police and communal leaders” are paramount to their endeavors and future action.

Sunak’s commitment aligns with the recent government announcement, wherein he introduced a comprehensive support package designed to ensure the safety of British Jewish communities. Additionally, the Home Secretary’s recent pledge to ramp up security measures to protect Jewish communities further emphasizes the government’s proactive stance in addressing such concerns.