'Israeli' crew alleges assault during filming in Belfast

• i24NEWS crew alleges assault in Belfast.
• Cameraman reportedly struck by beer mug.
• Reporter claims crew faced repeated harassment.
• Crew returns to 'Israel' after incident.

A reporting crew from 'Israeli' news network i24NEWS alleged they were subjected to a violent attack in Belfast while filming a documentary series focusing on alleged rising antisemitism across Europe.

According to statements made by i24NEWS reporter Yonatan Raveh, he and cameraman Nadav Abbas were conducting street interviews near a well-known bar complex when a male bystander allegedly overheard them telling interviewees that they were from 'Israel'.

Raveh claimed the man approached the crew aggressively, made inappropriate gestures, and shouted hostile slogans toward 'Israel'.

The reporter alleged that despite their efforts to walk away, the individual followed them threateningly and attempted to grab their camera equipment.

"We were not looking for any trouble; we were trying to be as peaceful as we can get, and we just walked away," Raveh claimed during an interview detailing the event. "But he started to follow us."

Alleged glass mug attack

Raveh further alleged that bar security guards initially observed the altercation but failed to intervene immediately.

According to Raveh's account, the assailant then threw a large glass beer mug at Abbas, hitting him directly in the head and cutting him.

Following the impact, venue security personnel allegedly brought the journalists inside the establishment and stated that police had been contacted.

However, Raveh claimed the crew decided not to wait for law enforcement, choosing instead to leave the area after noticing the assailant was no longer visible.

Because it was their final scheduled day in Northern Ireland, the team returned to 'Israel' so Abbas could receive medical attention.

Claims of regional harassment

Reflecting on their stay, Raveh alleged that the physical attack followed numerous verbal altercations and slurs.

He claimed that views regarding 'Israel' in Belfast are sharply polarized along traditional community lines, alleging that Irish Catholic areas were strongly pro-Palestinian while Protestant communities tended to be pro-'Israel'.

Additionally, Raveh claimed his team had previously experienced hostile encounters in other cities during production, alleging a prior threat in Madrid where protesters surrounded them and demanded they delete filmed footage.