A crew from i24NEWS’ Hebrew-language channel was attacked in Belfast, Northern Ireland, while working on a documentary examining the rise of antisemitism across Europe.
Reporter Yonatan Raveh and cameraman Nadav Abbas were conducting street interviews near a popular bar complex when they were approached by a man who, according to Raveh, appeared to have overheard them telling two Irish interviewees that they were from Israel.
Raveh said the man began questioning the journalists before turning hostile after they pointed the camera towards him.
Confrontation Escalates After Anti-Israel Slur
According to Raveh, the man made an offensive gesture towards the crew and shouted an anti-Israel expletive.
The journalists attempted to avoid further confrontation and began walking away.
Raveh said, however, that the man followed them and tried to grab their camera equipment.
The situation became increasingly threatening as the crew called for police or security personnel from nearby businesses to intervene.
Raveh said security staff eventually approached but initially did not intervene despite witnessing the confrontation.
Cameraman Struck by Beer Mug
The confrontation took a violent turn when the man threw a large glass beer mug at Abbas.
The object struck the cameraman in the head, leaving him with a cut.
Security personnel subsequently intervened and brought the two journalists inside the bar for protection.
According to Raveh, staff told the crew that police had been contacted.
The journalists nevertheless decided not to wait for officers after determining that their alleged attacker had left the area.
Crew Returns to Israel for Medical Treatment
Because it was the crew’s final day in Northern Ireland, Raveh and Abbas decided to return to Israel rather than remain in Belfast.
Abbas travelled back so that he could receive medical attention for the injury sustained during the assault.
Raveh said the incident was the first physical attack the crew had experienced while working in Northern Ireland, although it followed what he described as numerous verbal confrontations, curses and slurs.
Belfast Described as Deeply Divided
Reflecting on the crew’s experience, Raveh said Belfast appeared to have a particularly pronounced divide over Israel and the Palestinian issue.
He characterised the city as being split between two distinct communities with sharply different political perspectives.
According to Raveh, he encountered strong pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel sentiment among Irish Catholics, while he described Protestants as generally more supportive of Israel.
Crew Has Faced Threats Elsewhere
The Belfast incident was not the first difficult encounter faced by the i24NEWS team while producing its documentary.
Raveh recalled a previous incident in Madrid, Spain, where pro-Palestinian protesters surrounded the crew and demanded that footage they had recorded be deleted.
He described the episode as frightening, even though it did not escalate into severe physical violence.
The journalists eventually deleted the material amid the confrontation.
Similar Incident Reported in New York
Raveh also said the crew had experienced a comparable situation in New York, highlighting the challenges journalists can face when reporting on highly polarising issues.
The incidents have formed part of the wider experience of the crew as it travels to different locations to investigate antisemitism and attitudes towards Israel.
Raveh Praises Cameraman’s Response
Despite the assault, Raveh praised Abbas for remaining composed during the confrontation and dealing with the situation professionally.
He described the cameraman as courageous and commended the way he handled the incident after being struck.
Raveh said Abbas had remained “super cool” during what he characterised as a highly problematic and threatening situation.
The Belfast assault has added a physical dimension to the verbal hostility the crew says it has encountered while documenting antisemitism and the increasingly polarised debate surrounding Israel across different parts of the world.
