Arab Medical Students Attacked in Jerusalem Train Station

Four Arab medical students from the towns of Qalansawe, Tayibe, and Baqa al-Gharbiyye reported being victims of a racist assault at a Jerusalem train station on Sunday. According to the students, a young man poured drinks on them and others called them "terrorists" due to their appearance and headscarves. The students stated the incident caused them fear and anxiety, particularly due to the alleged indifference of security personnel who they claim ignored their calls for help and did not treat the incident with the required seriousness. They are considering legal action.

Two of the students recounted that while on their way home via Jerusalem's central train station, a young man suddenly poured an iced drink on them. He reportedly returned a few minutes later and repeated the action. One student, in her third year of medical studies, said the assailant, estimated to be 17-18 years old, also filmed them. Others at the station allegedly used racist slurs, including calling them "terrorists."

After contacting her father, who advised her to seek security assistance, the students approached four security guards. However, one guard allegedly only said he would check camera footage, without taking further action. Other security personnel who arrived also reportedly failed to respond to the students' protests. One student pointed out that the response would have been different if the victims were Jewish, suggesting police would have been called. Another student experienced a panic attack and began crying, but her distress was also ignored by security.

The students expressed their distress, stating, "We are young women in our twenties, studying medicine and striving to achieve our dreams. The minimum we expect is to be able to travel to university or return home safely, not to fear being attacked at a public station." They also noted that a video posted by the assailant, which garnered racist comments praising his actions and encouraging him to repeat them, has increased their fear of further attacks and made them hesitant to use the train in the future.

The students consider the incident an assault requiring accountability and are exploring legal options. They believe this is not an isolated incident and that similar situations have affected other Arab women, particularly those wearing headscarves. They warned that a lack of serious response to racist attacks could encourage their repetition. The report did not indicate any police action or identification of the suspect.