A self-professed “Jew hater” answerable for a string of assaults at Israel-Gaza protests in Manhattan mentioned “I’m sorry, guys” as he realized his destiny Tuesday — however at the least one in all his victims wasn’t moved by the temporary apology.
Tarek Bazrouk, 20, was sentenced to 17 months in jail after pleading responsible to federal hate crime fees for kicking and punching Jewish individuals 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 for those who give me an opportunity you’ll not be dissatisfied,” Bazrouk, a Manhattan native whose household is Palestinian, mentioned in the course of the assertion that lasted round a minute.
It didn’t impress one in all 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 advised Decide Richard Berman — including that Bazrouk “smirked” at him whereas issuing his assertion.
“He circled twice and smirked … I don’t really feel it in my intestine,” Efraimov advised the courtroom.
Berman’s sentence was under prosecutors’ advice of at the least three years behind bars however greater than the 12 months in custody advised by the probation division.
Individuals who assault Jews, or individuals of some other ethnicity or religion at protests due to their id, are “very prone to go to jail,” Berman mentioned from the bench.
“It really works the other approach as nicely,” the choose mentioned. “The foundations which might be utilized on this case don’t apply to Jews or Palestinians alone. They apply to everyone.”
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 tune 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 without end 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 scholar’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 continued hazard he poses to Jews.”
They cited his “deeply seeded anti-Jewish animus” revealed by his textual content messages — together with a Might 2024 missive to a pal 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 Might — 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 selections not solely affected him … however his household and his neighborhood.”
Bazrouk’s cousin was “killed by Israeli settlers” in Might 2008 “although he was not taking part in any hostilities,” Dalack mentioned in courtroom papers filed prematurely 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 wish to see extra assaults on Israel just like the one dedicated by Hamas on October 7. I don’t wish to see any extra individuals 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 individuals gained’t clear up 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 definitely gained’t assist carry 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 advised The Publish 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 present was that for those who goal and assault Jews just because they’re Jewish, you’ll be held accountable,” Baker mentioned.
Bazrouk’s sister, Anwar Bazrouk, addressed the courtroom earlier than the sentence was handed down, saying, “I wish to emphasize that me and my household strongly condemn violence in all kinds, and that “We’re all dedicated to be sure that nothing like this occurs once more.”
Anwar mentioned she’s nonetheless puzzled by her brother’s hateful textual content messages unearthed in the course of the investigation.
“I ask myself concerning the textual content messages, I ask myself the place he realized to say these issues about Jewish individuals,” she mentioned. “We come from a humble household that by no means taught him to say these issues.”
