American Cities Beef up Security as Israel-Hamas War Escalates

Major U.S. cities have stepped up security amid the continuing war between Israel and Hamas, and following calls by a Hamas leader for an international day of “rage” on Friday.

In addition to New York City — where all active NYPD officers are ordered to report for duty on Friday — Los Angeles and Washington D.C. have also increased protection around both Jewish and Muslim sites amid the conflict, CBS News reported Thursday.

While there is no specific or credible threat that has been reported, law-enforcement bulletins and threat assessments reviewed by CBS reportedly indicate that domestic extremists in the West are likely to mobilize in response to the turmoil abroad.

"Violent extremists in North America, Europe, and Australia are likely to plan physical attacks and increase virtual harassment campaigns against Jewish and Muslim communities — as well as entities perceived to be related to them — in the wake of Hamas' October 7, 2023, hybrid attack and incursion into Israel and Israel 's military response," one such assessment reportedly read.

That assessment was compiled by Insikt, which bills itself as a group of experienced threat researchers.

Insikt’s assessment mentioned Jewish "houses of worship, community centers, government facilities, and public demonstrations” as historic targets when tensions flare between Israel and Palestine.

Speaking in a recent briefing helmed by the Department of Homeland Security, officials described the current state of play as “volatile” and “unpredictable,” with the possibility that the ebbs and flows of the Israel-Hamas war “might create additional homeland security challenges,” CBS reported.

"I think everybody is pretty well attuned to the different ways in which the conflict could expand — in northern France, involving Lebanese Hezbollah, other actors in the region becoming involved," one anonymous DHS official said, according to the outlet. "Each of those, were they to materialize, would have potential implications for our homeland security." 

In a stunning breach of security, Hamas marauders flooded into Israel by land, sea, and air on October 7, killing at least 1,300 people, most of them civilians.

They wounded thousands more and claim to have taken roughly another 150 hostages back into Gaza.

Israel has responded by pounding Gaza with airstrikes and setting up a tight blockade that has left the territory without access to outside food, water, electric power, or fuel.

On Friday, Israel ordered some 1.1 million people in northern Gaza to evacuate within 24 hours, in a possible prelude to an Israeli ground invasion.

At least 1,400 people have been killed in Gaza, with thousands more wounded, according to Palestinian health officials.