An Israeli man was assaulted by protesters in the Los Angeles area on Sunday.
A video that has circulated on social media shows a group of pro-Palestinian protesters surrounding the man and punching him repeatedly at the Santa Monica Pier, a popular tourist attraction west of downtown Los Angeles.
Lt. Lewis Gilmour, a spokesman for the Santa Monica Police Department, told JNS that in the early evening, “officers responded to a report of a battery on the Santa Monica Pier.”
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“Responding officers met with a male victim who reported being surrounded by a group of individuals and physically assaulted,” he said. “Based on statements made during the incident and circumstances reported, detectives are investigating this case as a hate crime.”
The victim sustained minor injuries from the attack, according to Gilmour.
The Jewish Journal identified the victim as Ariel Yaakov Marciano, 24.
Marciano, who was wearing his Star of David necklace at the time, told the Journal that he was visiting from Sacramento for his cousin’s bar mitzvah, and a group of pro-Palestinian protesters noticed that he was speaking Hebrew to another Israeli man from Las Vegas.
“At that point, they attacked me,” he told the local Jewish newspaper. “One of them hit me on the back of the head, and I started bleeding.”
“Others pushed me around and tore the necklace off my neck,” Marciano added. “I pushed one of the masked attackers, and then they all jumped on me.”
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He told the Journal that around 20 protesters attacked him. Marciano told the paper that one of the protesters drew a knife on him and said, “You’re lucky I’m not stabbing you.”
Marciano was also pepper-sprayed by one of the protesters when he shouted, “God bless Israel!” on his way to the police station, per the Journal.
‘A cowardly attack by people wearing masks’
The attack occurred “during a pro-Gaza demonstration” at a nearby park that “included a counterdemonstration where approximately 100 participants were present” and there were “several verbal altercations and disturbances between the two groups,” Gilmour told JNS.
“We are deeply disturbed by this incident and the hateful conduct reported in connection with it,” he said. “The Santa Monica Police Department condemns all forms of hate and antisemitism. We want to be clear: Hatred and intimidation will not be tolerated here.”
“Our officers remain committed to responding swiftly, investigating thoroughly, and working with our community and law enforcement partners to ensure violators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Gilmour added.
Peter Levi, the interim Los Angeles regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, told JNS that “in America, targeting Israelis and Jews for violence is abhorrent and a hate crime.”
“We are experiencing a deplorable escalation of antisemitism across southern California, warranting the immediate attention of law enforcement, community leaders and elected officials,” Levi said. “We call on everyone to take a stand against the violence and intimidation targeting our community.”
Roz Rothstein, CEO and co-founder of StandWithUs, told JNS that “it is despicable and incredulous that in 2025 a man who thinks differently than others would be physically assaulted.”
“This was a cowardly attack by people wearing masks,” she said. “Ariel’s lucky that he escaped with his life. People from all nationalities and beliefs should be able to express their identity freely without fear that they will be accosted for it.”
Marciano told the Journal that a good Samaritan later found him and returned his Star of David necklace.
“I’m not going to stop wearing my Star of David or any other Jewish symbols,” he told the newspaper.
