A Jewish father and son were assaulted by a mob at a gas station cafe near Milan, Italy, where the crowd shouted slogans like “Free Palestine!” after they identified the pair as Jewish through their traditional head coverings.
The father and son, both from France, were just looking for a restroom when they were clearly singled out. The situation escalated when the father began filming the scene, at which point he was reportedly pushed to the ground and kicked.
According to reports:
The Jewish father and his six-year-old son faced a hostile mob chanting “free Palestine” and “murderers” at a rest area cafe near Milan yesterday. Multiple people participated in the chanting, and the father was forcefully pushed to the ground and kicked repeatedly.
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The incident unfolded after a cashier yelled “Free Palestine” just as the father and son were about to enter the bathroom, prompting others to join in the chant.
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When the father and son exited the bathroom, around 15 to 20 people were reportedly waiting for them, demanding that he delete the video. Upon his refusal, he was knocked to the ground, and bystanders had to take the child to safety in a corner.
Reports from Israel mentioned that the father and son faced verbal abuse at this gas station in Italy, highlighting growing concerns of serious anti-Semitism. The mob yelled “free Palestine” and “murderer” once they recognized the father was wearing a kippa, a traditional Jewish skullcap.
The child appeared to be in distress, yet his father responded by chanting “am Israeli Chai,” meaning “the people of Israel live.” The whole confrontation was captured on video and shared widely on social media, provoking various reactions online.
Israeli officials have indicated that such anti-Semitic incidents have increased globally, particularly following provocative and inaccurate reports regarding the situation in Gaza.
