Israeli students violently assaulted in Warsaw by Qatari youths

One victim was taken to hospital and treated for a broken nose and eye socket and hopes to arrive back in Israel either tomorrow or shortly thereafter.

By JEREMY SHARON
Polish police, illustrative (photo credit: REUTERS)
Polish police, illustrative
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Several Israeli students in Warsaw on a semester abroad were violently assaulted in the Polish capital in the early hours of Saturday morning, allegedly by a group of young men from Qatar, including two who were hospitalized.
The Foreign Ministry confirmed the attack and said that the Israeli consul in Warsaw had addressed the incident.
Yotam Kashpizky and several friends who are in Warsaw within the framework of their studies at the Rishon Lezion Management College had been at a night club in the city and left at around 4 a.m. in the early hours of Saturday morning.
As they left, Kashpizky says that a group of young Arab men approached them and started asking if they were Israeli.
Kashpizky told The Jerusalem Post that the men identified themselves as being from Qatar and started shouting “free Palestine,” “free Gaza” and “f**k Israel” at the group of Israelis, and when they stated they were indeed from Israel, the Qatari men began to attack and assault them.
Kashpizky had already left the scene in a taxi but when he saw what happened, he exited his cab and rushed to assist his friends.
One of the assailants punched Yotam in the face and he lost consciousness. He believes the assailant used a knuckle-duster, given the serious injuries he sustained and the fact that he was knocked unconscious.
Pictures posted by Kashpizky’s brother on Facebook showed him with a bloodied face and nose, and a closed eye.
Kashpizky was taken to hospital and treated for a broken nose and eye socket and hopes to arrive back in Israel either tomorrow or shortly thereafter.
The victim described the assault as a “terrorist incident based on nationalistic motives” and was highly critical of both the by-passers in the street and night club security personnel, who he said did nothing to help the Israelis who were being attacked.
Kashpizky also strongly criticized the Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Embassy in Warsaw, saying that they had not been of any help, and had merely directed them to report the incident to the police in Warsaw.
He said, however, that the Warsaw School of Economics with whom the Israeli students had been studying had been extremely helpful following the incident and assisted him and the other student who had been injured.
Kashpizky and others reported the incident to the police in Warsaw, who said it was under investigation.
According to the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli consul in Warsaw Mani Kaamara did offer assistance and recommended the victims file a complaint with the police.
“The Foreign Ministry is examining the incident and will make a decision regarding further steps with the local authorities,” the ministry said in a statement to the press.