Man Sentenced to 90 Days for Hate Crime Attack on Israelis in NYC

In New York City, Yahya Amin was sentenced to 90 days in jail and five years of probation for an antisemitic attack on a group of Israelis in Times Square. The incident occurred on October 18, 2023, eleven days after the Hamas attack on Israel. Amin followed the group, who were visibly Jewish, for over 12 minutes, shouting threats and "Hamas music." He told them "Hamas should kill more like you" and "All Jews must die." Despite being told to stop by a security guard, Amin continued to pursue them. He then ran up from behind and punched a 23-year-old Israeli tourist in the head, causing pain, redness, and swelling. Amin attempted to flee but was apprehended by a police officer who joined the pursuit. Even after his arrest, Amin continued to utter hateful remarks, including "I will die for Gaza" and "May Allah kill all Jews."

Prosecutors initially charged Amin with multiple counts, including hate crime stalking and assault. His defense argued that the incident was too brief to constitute stalking and invoked free speech rights. However, Judge Altea Drysdale rejected these arguments in June 2024, ruling that Amin's actions constituted a pattern of behavior and that the victims were targeted due to their religious identity. In March 2026, Amin pleaded guilty to third-degree assault as a hate crime as part of a plea deal, forfeiting his right to appeal.

During his sentencing hearing, Amin smiled at photographers and made a "V" sign, telling the judge he wanted to "look good for the cameras." He stated he is a U.S. citizen. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg commented, "Hate-fueled violence and discrimination will not be tolerated in Manhattan." Amin was released on bail pending the start of his sentence, with his passport surrendered to prevent him from leaving the U.S. The judge warned that any further arrests before his sentence begins could result in up to three years in prison.