The Israeli national was also arrested after the attacker claimed he made racist comments, though the Israeli national remains in hospital.
Israeli tourist Stav Ben-Shoshan was enjoying a vacation near Athens when he was reportedly attacked by a group of Syrian migrants, one of whom bit off part of his ear while making antisemitic and pro-Palestinian comments, according to Saturday Israeli media reports.
The Syrian national was reportedly arrested after the attack, and the Israeli embassy in Athens is in contact with local authorities.
Ben-Shoshan was also arrested after the Syrian national alleged he made racist remarks, although he remains hospitalized for the wounds he sustained in the alleged attack, according to Ynet.
Ben-Shoshan recounted to Israeli media how he was on the Bolivar Beach with his wife and another Israeli couple when an unknown man approached them and began videoing them while shouting, “Free Palestine, to hell with Israel, I am Hamas.”
Protesters hold a banner during a pro-Palestinian protest in front of the parliament building in Athens, Greece. (credit: REUTERS/LOUIZA VRADI)
He claimed that during the initial incident, the man pushed him and threw sand on him. The Syrian man was removed by security after initiating the conflict, he claimed.
The second incident
An hour after the initial incident, Ben-Shoshan claimed that the man returned and tried to assault his wife, which is when he stepped in to protect her.
During the struggle to protect his wife, Ben-Shoshan said the man bit off part of his ear, which he is currently receiving medical attention for.
Sources at the Foreign Ministry told Ynet that “apparently, a group of immigrants recognized the Israelis and harassed them. When the Israeli went to the beach, one of the group attacked him and bit him, causing him a serious injury to his ear. The attacker is in custody. We are in contact with him and the authorities.”