'Baby killer': IDF reservist attacked by antisemitic Spanish tourist in Philippines
Upon learning that the reservist was from Israel, a Spanish tourist in the Philippines began shouting accusations such as “baby killer” and “genocide” while threatening to kill him.
An Israeli military reservist, traveling as a tourist, faced an antisemitic attack in Siargao Island, Philippines, on August 3. According to the Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry, the incident began when a Spanish tourist confronted the Israeli visitor, asking about his nationality. Upon discovering the man's Israeli roots, the suspect began hurling accusations of "baby killer" and "genocide," threatening to take the reservist's life.
Footage shared on social media depicted the confrontation outside the cafe, where the Israeli reservist tried to de-escalate the situation, warning the attacker of being recorded and requesting he withdraw. Despite these efforts, the Spanish tourist initiated physical violence, launching the first punch. The larger attacker was eventually subdued by the Israeli reservist during a ground struggle, shown in the footage restraining and pinning the assailant to the ground.
During the altercation, the attacker threatened the reservist in English, urging him to cease the violence and asking if he understood Spanish. The reservist counteracted by warning, "If you don't understand what I'm saying, I will kill you." Local authorities arrived at the scene, arresting the Spanish tourist. The court subsequently ordered the attacker to compensate the Israeli victim for medical expenses, including surgery in Thailand, for a broken finger sustained during the incident. The ministry's report also noted that the attacker formally apologized in a video.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
