Tarek Bazrouk, known for his anti-Israel activism, has been sentenced to 17 months in prison on federal hate crime charges following an assault on Jewish counter-protesters. Upon release, he will also serve three years under supervised probation.
In a courtroom session that took place on Tuesday, Bazrouk expressed remorse for his actions. Addressing the victims directly, he stated, “I’m sorry, guys, and hope you can forgive me for my actions,” acknowledging the impact of his behavior.
U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, presiding over the hearing, emphasized the gravity of the offense by highlighting that any assault motivated by an individual’s actual or perceived Jewish identity, particularly when they are exercising their First Amendment rights, would likely result in imprisonment. He stressed that the principle applies universally, regardless of the roles being reversed.
Amid ongoing tensions between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, anti-Israel demonstrators attempted to enter the Brooklyn Museum on May 31, 2024, as captured in a photograph by Eduardo Munoz for Reuters. These protests have been part of a broader context of unrest in the region.
The prosecution argued for a 36-month sentence, exceeding the typical sentencing guidelines, on the basis that the case’s severity warranted a stern response. They also contended that a lengthier sentence could serve as a deterrent to similar offenses in the future.
The government argued for a 36-month sentence, which is above the sentencing guidelines, saying that it was a “serious case” that needed “a serious sentence.” Additionally, the government argued that a longer sentence would help with deterrence.
Berman read excerpts of victims’ letters, including one that said “justice here means sending a message that hate and violence have no place in this city.”
Two of Bazrouk’s victims took the opportunity to speak at the hearing. One of them said that he was a victim of Bazrouk’s “vicious campaign against Jews,” adding that the assaults were not about the war, but rather “about us as Jews.”
The other victim said he did not see Bazrouk’s remorse for the assault, saying he didn’t “feel it in my gut.
The judge also read Bazrouk’s letter to the court during the hearing. In the letter, Bazrouk said that there was “no excuse for my behavior” and that he “let feelings over the suffering in Gaza get the best of me.” He added that “violence is never the right response.”
Bazrouk’s sister told the court that the last six months had been challenging for her family and that they condemned her brother’s actions. However, she did not believe more time behind bars would help her brother.
“More time in jail will do more harm than good,” Bazrouk’s sister said. She also said that he would participate in treatment and rebuild his life if given the opportunity.
Bazrouk’s attorney, Andrew Dalack, argued that he was remorseful for his actions and that he “has continued to grapple with how those terrible decisions not only affected him…but his family and his community.”
Anti-Israel protesters rally near the United Nations on Sept. 23, 2025, in New York City. (Stephanie Keith/Getty Images)
In May, Bazrouk, 20, was charged with three counts of committing hate crimes in connection with repeated assaults of Jews in New York City between 2024 and 2025. The incidents were linked to protests regarding the Israel-Hamas war. He pleaded guilty to one count in June as part of an agreement.
Bazrouk then read a statement saying, between April 2024 and January 2025, he assaulted others because of their identity. He further admitted to punching someone on Jan. 6.
“I am very sorry,” Bazrouk said.
He continued, explaining he is Palestinian and started to protest as a way to express outrage over Israel’s actions in Gaza. Bazrouk also apologized to his family and the community.
“The Civil Rights Division will continue to relentlessly pursue allegations of antisemitic violence and will not stop until justice is served for the victims and their families,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in a DOJ statement. “Under Attorney General Pam Bondi’s leadership, we will use all available resources to investigate and charge those who target and assault others because of their faith.”
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York said in a statement that “despite being arrested after each incident, Bazrouk allegedly remained undeterred and quickly returned to using violence to target Jews in New York City.”
The first incident occurred on April 15, 2024, when Bazrouk, who was allegedly wearing a green headband typically associated with Hamas terrorists, was at a protest in Lower Manhattan outside the New York Stock Exchange.
According to the DOJ, the NYPD arrested Bazrouk after he was “lunging at a group of pro-Israel protesters.” The DOJ said that as he was being escorted to the NYPD vehicle, Bazrouk kicked an individual in the stomach. The person was a Jewish college student, who was allegedly standing near other Jewish protesters wearing kippahs, carrying Israeli flags and singing Jewish songs.
Anti-Israel protesters, including one bearing a Hamas flag and headband, march in a Nakba Day rally on May 18, 2024, in the Bay Ridge section of New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The second incident noted in the DOJ statement occurred on Dec. 9, 2024, when Bazrouk allegedly assaulted an individual at a protest near a university campus in Upper Manhattan. The victim was a Jewish student who attended the university, according to the DOJ. Bazrouk allegedly stole an Israeli flag from the victim, who was wearing a kippah, and fled.
According to the DOJ, the victim and his brother followed Bazrouk through a crowd to retrieve the flag and Bazrouk then snuck up on the victim and “struck him in the face with a closed fist.”
The third incident took place on Jan. 6, 2025, when Bazrouk allegedly assaulted another Jewish victim at a protest in Manhattan.
“During the protest, Bazrouk, who was wearing a keffiyeh on his face, made contact with Victim-3’s shoulder and wrapped his foot around Victim-3’s ankle. Victim-3 attempted to push Bazrouk away and cursed at him. Bazrouk then punched Victim-3 in the nose with a closed fist,” the DOJ said in a statement.
Law enforcement searched a cell phone belonging to Bazrouk that contained evidence of his “antisemitic bias and his support for anti-Jewish terrorist groups, including Hamas,” according to the DOJ. He also allegedly identified himself as a “Jew hater” and said Jews were “worthless.” The DOJ said that this demonstrated Bazrouk’s motive in the assaults.
