A video circulating on social media appears to show a physical altercation at an airport between a man and several Breslov Hasidim returning from their Rosh Hashanah pilgrimage to Uman, Ukraine, after the man shouted "Free Palestine" at them, according to the French Jewish news site Israj.
According to Israj, the man, described as a pro-Palestinian activist, approached several Breslov Hasidim and directed the slogan at them, apparently in response to their Orthodox clothing. Three of the Hasidim then went after him, punching him several times before holding him down on the ground, the outlet reported.
Israj said the footage does not make clear which airport the incident took place in, and that it was not known whether any legal action followed.
The incident comes as tens of thousands of pilgrims travel home from Uman, where Breslov Hasidim gather each Rosh Hashanah at the grave of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, the movement's founder. Ahead of this year's holiday, about 45,000 pilgrims were expected in the city, including an estimated 35,000 from Israel, according to Ynet. Because the war in Ukraine has halted direct flights into the country, pilgrims travel through airports in neighboring countries. Israeli police officers and dozens of Foreign Ministry diplomats were assigned to accompany travelers at several airports to help prevent incidents along the way.
