Israel Police arrested three minors on Tuesday on suspicion of involvement in last week’s attack on an elderly Palestinian man near Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.
The three suspects, all residents of the large haredi (ultra-Orthodox) Beitar Illit settlement, were arrested after Jerusalem District police used investigative measures and technological tools to identify them, police said.
According to police, the minors filmed the incident during the violent disturbance and uploaded the footage to social media. Police took them for questioning, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The attack occurred last Tuesday (September 29) during disturbances on Haim Bar-Lev Boulevard and near Damascus Gate. Footage circulated afterward showed several haredi youths striking and kicking 66-year-old east Jerusalem resident Ahmed al-Husseini, including after he fell to the ground.
Husseini later said he had been walking from his home in the Old City to work when he was attacked. He said he tried to escape, fell several times, and was so shocked that he did not know where he was.
MK visits victim, describes attack as racist violence
Democrats MK Gilad Kariv, who visited Husseini two days after the attack, said he suffered two broken ribs. Kariv described the attack as racist violence and called on police to bring those responsible to justice.
Kariv also said Husseini received no assistance from police or soldiers during the attack despite the presence of security personnel at Damascus Gate. Police have not addressed that allegation.
President Isaac Herzog later spoke with Husseini and strongly condemned the attack.
“I was truly saddened to see what happened to you, and I think the entire people of Israel were deeply pained to see this incident,” Herzog told him.
“No elderly person, and no person whatsoever, should be treated this way,” he added. “I strongly condemn the violence against you. We must act with every tool at our disposal against this violence.”
The attack occurred amid broader disturbances following a religious gathering honoring Rabbi Nachman of Breslov. Police arrested 11 people that night in connection with public disorder and other violence in the Haim Bar-Lev Boulevard and Damascus Gate areas.
A Border Police officer was lightly injured by a bottle, and police said rioters damaged municipal vehicles and stole one before abandoning it. Police did not say that the 11 initial arrests were connected to the attack on Husseini.
Tzvi Jasper contributed to this report.