Brooklyn Woman Assaulted After Being Mistaken for Protester During Visit by Israeli Security Minister

A Brooklyn woman said she feared for her life after being chased, kicked, and pelted with objects by a group of Orthodox Jewish men near the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Crown Heights last Thursday.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous for safety reasons, said the mob mistakenly believed she was participating in a protest against Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

The incident, captured on video by a bystander, occurred after tensions escalated during Ben-Gvir’s visit to the neighborhood, sparking confrontations between pro-Palestinian activists and members of the local Orthodox Jewish community. By the time the woman arrived near the protest scene around 10:30 p.m., the demonstration had largely dispersed. She told the Associated Press that she covered her face with a scarf to avoid being filmed, which she believes drew the mob’s attention.

“They were shouting at me, threatening to rape me, chanting ‘death to Arabs,'” she said, describing her fear as the group encircled her.

Video footage shows the woman being kicked, struck with a traffic cone, and shoved with a trash can as she attempted to flee with the assistance of a police officer. After several blocks, the officer managed to get her into a police vehicle amid cheers from the crowd.

The woman reported bruises and emotional trauma from the incident and called for a police investigation into what she believes was an act of hate. She expressed concern about her safety in the neighborhood she has lived in for a decade.

Mayor Eric Adams addressed the situation on Sunday, stating that police were investigating multiple incidents stemming from Thursday’s protests, including the assaults of two women. Adams condemned the violence, calling it “despicable,” and emphasized that New York City would not tolerate acts of violence or intimidation during protests.

According to police, one person was arrested and five others were issued summonses related to the events. It remains unclear whether anyone involved in the assault on the Brooklyn woman was among those charged.

The protests in Crown Heights were among several that occurred during Ben-Gvir’s visit to the United States. The Israeli minister, known for his far-right views, has previously been convicted in Israel for racist incitement and support for a terrorist group. His US trip, including stops at Yale University and in Manhattan, has drawn demonstrations from pro-Palestinian activists and criticism from some Jewish groups.

A spokesperson for the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Motti Seligson, condemned both the provocations by protesters and the violence by members of the Orthodox community, stressing that such actions are “entirely unacceptable” and “wholly antithetical to the Torah’s values.”

The situation has heightened tensions in Crown Heights, a neighborhood that witnessed significant racial violence during the 1991 Crown Heights riots. Rights advocates have raised broader concerns about a rise in both Islamophobia and antisemitism amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict.

Mayor Adams has urged the assaulted women to come forward to assist the ongoing investigation. Authorities continue to review video evidence and interview witnesses as part of their inquiry.

The Associated Press, the New York Times, and Reuters contributed to this report.