A self-professed “Jew hater” accountable for a string of assaults at Israel-Gaza protests in Manhattan mentioned “I'm sorry, guys” as he realized his destiny Tuesday — however no less than one among his victims wasn't moved by the transient apology.
Tarek Bazrouk, 20, was sentenced to 17 months in jail after pleading responsible to federal hate crime expenses for kicking and punching Jewish folks at three demonstrations, the latest in January.
“I'm sorry, guys, and I hope that you just forgive me for my actions,” Bazrouk mentioned, turning round on the protection desk to face two of his victims in Manhattan federal courtroom.
“I promise you, choose, that should you give me an opportunity you'll not be upset,” Bazrouk, a Manhattan native whose household is Palestinian, mentioned through the assertion that lasted round a minute.
It didn't impress one among his victims, Roman Efraimov, who was sporting an Israeli flag draped over his shoulders and a Star of David chain seen round his neck when Bazrouk punched him within the nostril at a protest on 18th St. and First Avenue early this yr, the feds mentioned.
“I don't imagine that he has regret or is aware of the seriousness of the crime,” Efraimov informed Decide Richard Berman — including that Bazrouk “smirked” at him whereas issuing his assertion.
“He rotated twice and smirked … I don't really feel it in my intestine,” Efraimov informed the courtroom.
Berman's sentence was under prosecutors' advice of no less than three years behind bars however greater than the 12 months in custody urged by the probation division.
Individuals who assault Jews, or folks of every other ethnicity or religion at protests due to their id, are “very more likely to go to jail,” Berman mentioned from the bench.
“It really works the other method as properly,” the choose mentioned. “The foundations which can be utilized on this case don't apply to Jews or Palestinians alone. They apply to all people.”
On April 15, 2024, sporting a inexperienced headband sometimes worn by members of Hamas, Bazrouk kicked a separate kippah-wearing Jew, Elisha Baker, within the chest as he stood with an Israeli flag and sang a Jewish music throughout an illustration close to the New York Inventory Trade, in accordance with the feds.
Baker addressed the courtroom Tuesday, saying “My experiences as a Jew in America have been altered eternally due to the actions of this man.”
“After I regarded in his eyes, I noticed somebody who sought to harm me and trigger me ache simply due to who I'm,” Baker mentioned.
Bazrouk additionally punched a kippah-wearing Columbia pupil within the face at a separate protest on Dec. 9, 2024, after stealing an Israeli flag from the coed's brother, prosecutors mentioned.
The feds had pushed for a harsh sentence for what they known as Bazrouk's “repeated, premeditated assaults on Jewish people based mostly on their ethnicity and faith, and “the continuing hazard he poses to Jews.”
They cited his “deeply seeded anti-Jewish animus” revealed by his textual content messages — together with a Could 2024 missive to a buddy during which he wrote, “I'm a Jew hater,” alongside a crying laughing emoji.
Bazrouk additionally was a member of a chat group that obtained “common updates” from Abu Obeida, a spokesperson for Hamas' lethal al-Qassam Brigades militant group, prosecutors alleged.
Bazrouk's lawyer, public defender Andrew Dalack, argued in useless Tuesday for the choose to launch him from jail — the place he has been locked up since he was busted in Could — and permit him to serve the remainder of his sentence underneath home arrest.
Dalack mentioned in courtroom that Bazrouk was remorseful for his actions and “has continued to grapple with how these horrible choices not solely affected him … however his household and his neighborhood.”
Bazrouk's cousin was “killed by Israeli settlers” in Could 2008 “although he was not taking part in any hostilities,” Dalack mentioned in courtroom papers filed upfront of the sentence.
Bazrouk pleaded responsible in June, only one month after his arrest, and appeared to precise contrition in a letter despatched to the courtroom.
“I don't need to see extra assaults on Israel just like the one dedicated by Hamas on October 7. I don't need to see any extra folks in Gaza die of hunger or from bombings. What I do know now that I want I knew a yr in the past is that this: I'm sure that punching and kicking Jewish or Israeli folks gained't remedy something,” the letter reads.
“It gained't make me really feel higher. It gained't take away the ache and suffering of Palestinians. And it actually gained't assist convey Palestinians and Israelis nearer collectively,” he wrote.
As Berman introduced the 17-month sentence, Bazrouk, sporting a tan jail-issued jumpsuit, turned to face his family within the courthouse gallery, together with his older sister, who began silently weeping.
Efraimov informed The Submit after Tuesday's listening to that he felt the sentence was “honest,” whereas Baker mentioned, “I really feel safer now that I do know my attacker is not going to be roaming the streets for a substantial period of time.”
“The message that the choose despatched at the moment was that should you goal and assault Jews just because they're Jewish, you can be held accountable,” Baker mentioned.
Bazrouk's sister, Anwar Bazrouk, addressed the courtroom earlier than the sentence was handed down, saying, “I need to emphasize that me and my household strongly condemn violence in all varieties, and that “We're all dedicated to make it possible for nothing like this occurs once more.”
Anwar mentioned she's nonetheless puzzled by her brother's hateful textual content messages unearthed through the investigation.
“I ask myself concerning the textual content messages, I ask myself the place he realized to say these issues about Jewish folks,” she mentioned. “We come from a humble household that by no means taught him to say these issues.”
