Palestinian-American man called ‘terrorist,’ attacked in Downtown Jersey City hate crime

A Palestinian-American Jersey City man out with friends in Downtown Jersey City Sunday night was called a “f-ing terrorist” and attacked by a group of men, the man said.

Moath Hamzeh said in an Instagram post Monday and confirmed to The Jersey Journal the incident that occurred near the Grove Station restaurant and the PATH station at Newark Avenue and Grove Street. In the social media post, Hamzeh included a photo that shows some facial bruises and a cut on the inside of his mouth.

Hamzeh, who said he filed a police report on the incident, said he is sharing the story “so that you understand that one of your own was a victim of a hate crime, which unfortunately is running rampant in this country.”

In a later post, Hamzeh said Jersey City police obtained video footage of the assault and identified two “suspects/persons-of-interest,” but no arrests had been made. Jersey City officials could nit be reached for an update.

He said his friends had gotten a ride home and he was waiting inside the restaurant for his ride-share vehicle to arrive when “some guy randomly asked me where I was from.” After responding, “Baltimore,” Hamzeh says the man pressed him further and he told the man “Palestine.”

Hamzeh said the group began to harass him from a distance and he alerted the restaurant manager know “to make sure they stay away from me.”

The man and his friends then followed Hamzeh outside after Hamzeh paid his bill, began yelling racial slurs and then one of them sucker punched him in the face, Hamzeh said.

Hamzeh fell to the ground, twisted his knee and bumped the back of his head on the pavement.

He was then kicked me and spit on, and Hamzeh says the men yelled “f-ing terrorist” and other slurs referring to attacks against Israelis. He said at least one of the men “actually spoke Israeli-Arabic, which is a very distinct accent that any Arab can recognize.”

Anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic hate crimes have risen in the U.S. since the start of the war in Gaza and Israel between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 7. At the moment, there is a ceasefire in the fighting.

Downtown Jersey City Councilman James Solomon tweeted his concern over the incident.

“Let me be clear: Hate has no home in Jersey City,” he said. “I will continue to receive regular updates on the progress of JCPD’s investigation, and I am committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone who calls Jersey City home.”

The Jersey City Council is expected to vote on a symbolic resolution Wednesday night calling on President Joe Biden to demand a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas.