Why Did Migrants Insult a Jewish Tourist Couple in Venice?

Shouting "Freedom for Palestine" and Hurling Insults

An incident occurred in Venice, a northern Italian city built on water, where a Jewish tourist couple was insulted and assaulted by a group of migrants from North Africa.

According to local media including Sky TG24 on the 11th (local time), the incident took place just before midnight on the 7th near the Rialto Bridge, one of Venice’s most famous tourist attractions. At the time, a man with American citizenship and a woman with Israeli citizenship, both dressed in traditional Jewish attire, were reportedly surrounded by a group of 12 men.

(This photo is not directly related to the article.) Pixabay

The group hurled insults at the Jewish couple, shouting "Freedom for Palestine." One member of the group set a Rottweiler dog on them, while another slapped the man in the face. In addition, a glass bottle was thrown, injuring the woman’s ankle.

The police arrested three perpetrators. Among them, a 31-year-old man of Tunisian nationality was charged with assault but released due to a lack of prior convictions and was banned from entering Venice for two years. The other two, who were undocumented immigrants, were transferred to a detention facility and are facing deportation.

The shock was heightened by the fact that this incident occurred in Venice, the city where the world’s first Jewish ghetto was established. Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice, emphasized in a statement that both antisemitism and Islamophobia must be rejected. He added, "Venice must be an open and safe city based on mutual respect," and condemned the attack as "a serious act that can never be tolerated."

Just a month ago, a Jewish-American couple was subjected to a similar attack at the Rialto Bridge. The Jewish community of Venice denounced the latest incident as "a cowardly and despicable act."

Meanwhile, antisemitic crimes have been surging across Europe in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Last month, in the French Alps, a Jewish-owned vehicle was found spray-painted with the slogan "Freedom for Palestine."