Eyewitnesses have provided chilling details of the attack on Fahad Qubati, a 24-year-old Christian Arab from Nazareth, who was assaulted in Malia, Crete after being mistaken for an Israeli Jew.
According to Ynet, the incident occurred last Wednesday while Qubati was traveling in Greece with his family, resulting in injuries to his jaw and head. His mother, Jacqueline Qubati, described the attackers fleeing only after he displayed his cross, emphasizing, "This was not merely an assault; it was an attempted murder. I pray for my son's recovery and will pursue justice until the attackers are punished."
A young Jewish man who witnessed the scene recounted to Ynet, "There were approximately 12 people present, including some club security guards." He recalled the fear of hiding with his friend in an alley, saying, "I heard everyone running, and when I looked, I saw one of the motorcyclists chasing my friends with a gun. For half an hour, I didn’t know if they were alive. When I returned to the hotel, a friend informed me that the motorcycle assailant had threatened them with the gun, warning, 'We know where you're staying; leave the hotel today. We're coming.' It was terrifying; we survived miraculously. The world must know about these grave acts."
Another witness highlighted the severity and racial motivation behind the attack, stating, "The assault was brutal and driven purely by racism. I feared Fahad would be killed. He endured a savage beating, and any attempt to intervene would have likely resulted in our deaths. We're tourists. In the end, everyone will side with the attackers and forsake us."
Following the Ynet report, the Greek Embassy in Israel issued a statement condemning the assault, asserting, "Greek authorities are conducting a comprehensive investigation into the incident. Violence of any kind is utterly unacceptable. Israeli citizens are warmly welcomed in our country, which remains a safe destination for tourists."
