Gay Couple Beaten In Alleged Homophobic Attack In Israel, Teen Suspect Arrested
A teenager accused of attacking a same-sex couple in the southern Israeli port town of Eilat has been arrested and charged with aggravated assault and offences of racism.
The incident occurred at Jaffa Port where two men were reportedly attacked after they were spotted kissing in the harbour. The attack was caught on camera and widely spread in social media.
One of the victims, a 20-year-old who asked not to be identified, said, “The most important thing is that I’m alive. I thought I was going to die. What happened to me, happened. I was afraid. I let him hit me so he wouldn’t throw me into the water.”
Israeli politician Ofer Cassif said of the incident: “The homophobic attack at the Jaffa port was a horrible incident that cannot be passed over silently and I expect the attackers to be dealt with as having committed a hate crime in all ways.”
“Homophobic hate is disgusting and dangerous like every other form of prejudice,” he added.
As ‘Yahoo News’ reports, the Association for LGBTQ Equality in Israel, The Aguda, is calling on police to continue with the investigation.
“If we don’t take concrete steps to improve the status of LGBTQ+ people in society it could end a lot worse,” the organisation said in a statement.
“Violence against LGBTQ+ people in society is not destiny, it is the result of neglect, denial and disregard by leaders and the government from an entire public that needs a response and is not receiving it.”
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