Shocking Assault in Rome: Israeli Man Punched for Speaking Hebrew
Another night in Europe where speaking Hebrew can get you assaulted, and Jewish victims choose silence over a police report just to salvage their vacation.
A young Israeli couple vacationing in Italy was violently attacked in central Rome after an assailant overheard them speaking Hebrew, prompting a hate-fueled outburst of "Free Palestine" shouts, spitting, and a punch to the man's face, according to a viral X post by Israeli activist Hen Mazzig.
The victims, identified as Roy and Noya (both in their 20s), were walking around 10 p.m. when the man on a scooter confronted them. Noya recounted the terror: "We saw the hatred in his eyes... Luckily, my partner managed to pin the attacker to the ground within seconds. Otherwise, who knows how it would’ve ended." Roy released the man, who fled on foot, and the couple chose not to file a police report to avoid derailing their trip, hoping to "finish it in the best way possible."
Mazzig's post ties the incident to a pattern of anti-Israel violence: "When 'Free Palestine' is used to murder Jews in DC, rape a Jewish little girl in Paris, and punch an Israeli in Rome, it is clear that this is far from a peaceful movement." He referenced claims of prior attacks, amplifying the narrative of rising global antisemitism post-October 7, 2023.
No official Italian police confirmation yet, but the story has ignited debates on X about "imported antisemitism" and travel safety for Israelis. Roy and Noya, per Mazzig, are "shaken but resilient," continuing their vacation. As one reply put it: "Hebrew shouldn't be a death sentence abroad."