A violent attack on Israeli tourists in Athens early Saturday left one man injured, after two assailants overheard them speaking Hebrew and saw their Star of David necklaces, according to Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
The incident occurred on Ermou Street, a popular area in central Athens. A man in his forties was reportedly stabbed in the forehead before police intervened. Fortunately, none of the victims required hospitalization.
One of the attackers fled the scene and remains at large, while the other, identified as a 32-year-old Gazan with a history of participating in pro-Palestinian protests, was detained by Greek police. He faces charges of race-based violence, causing bodily harm, and violating Greek laws on carrying weapons.
According to local outlet News 24/7, the attackers allegedly targeted an Israeli couple who had just left a taverna. Other Israeli tourists were also present at the time.
Uzi Bukai, an Israeli eyewitness, recounted the chilling moment to Israel Hayom: “It was about 2 or 3 a.m. when a man and a woman were attacked. Suddenly we heard ‘Allahu Akbar’ and [an assailant] started stabbing the Israelis.” Bukai ran to alert the police, who intervened quickly, preventing what he believed could have been a much worse tragedy.
Athens, a favored travel destination for Israelis due to its proximity and affordability, has experienced several attacks on Israeli tourists since the October 7, 2023, Hamas assault on southern Israel, which killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken.
The Israeli National Security Council currently rates Greece’s threat level at two out of four, advising Israelis and Jews to take increased precautionary measures while visiting.
This is not the first incident of its kind. In 2023, Greek police arrested seven individuals accused of planning attacks on a synagogue and an Israeli-owned hotel in Athens. The year prior, two people believed to have been sent by Iran were detained for planning an attack on a kosher restaurant in the city.