Northern Ireland Police Arrest Man for Assaulting Israeli TV Crew in Belfast

Northern Ireland police have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of assaulting an Israeli television crew in Belfast. The incident occurred last week while the crew from i24NEWS was filming a report on rising antisemitism in Europe at a popular bar area. The suspect was charged with assaulting the Israeli reporter Yonatan Rohe, cameraman Nadav Abas, and a local police officer, as well as possession of a weapon. He appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court over the weekend, with further prosecution decisions pending.

During the attack, the cameraman was hit in the head by a glass cup thrown by the assailant, causing a bleeding wound. The crew had been interviewing people when the man became angry upon realizing they were Israeli, attempted to seize their equipment, and disrupted filming. When security initially did not respond, the attacker threw a large beer glass at the cameraman. The crew then sought help from nearby bar security and left the scene unharmed, requiring no further medical treatment.

Yonatan Rohe described the event as very frightening and expressed surprise and satisfaction that the police took action following their complaint. The "Friends of Israel in Northern Ireland" organization condemned the attack and called on political and civic leaders to denounce such violence and the rhetoric fueling it.

Gavin Robinson, leader of the pro-British Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), called the assault "very concerning" and demanded a full investigation, emphasizing that holding strong opinions about the Middle East does not justify violence or intimidation against Israelis or Jews. He highlighted Northern Ireland's painful history with identity-based hatred and stressed the need to unequivocally condemn antisemitism.

This attack comes amid a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Ireland. A report by the Jewish Representative Council of Ireland (JRCI) noted 143 antisemitic incidents were reported in just six months (July 2025 to January 2026) within Ireland's small Jewish community of approximately 2,200 people. The report criticized the lack of a national strategy or dedicated funding to combat antisemitism and protect the community.