Tarek Bazrouk pleads guilty to assaulting Jewish individuals at NYC protests; DOJ cites pro-Hamas, antisemitic motive.

Guilty Plea in Federal Hate Crime Case

Tarek Bazrouk, 20, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to a hate crime charge after targeting Jewish individuals during multiple anti-Israel protests in New York City between April 2024 and January 2025. Appearing before Judge Richard M. Berman in Manhattan, Bazrouk admitted he assaulted others because of their identity and expressed remorse during the hearing.

“I wish to plead guilty,” Bazrouk stated in court. He later added, “I am very sorry,” while explaining he began protesting in response to events in Gaza. The court accepted his plea to one count as part of a superseding information agreement, replacing previous indictments. Sentencing is scheduled for October 1.

DOJ Cites Pattern of Antisemitic Violence

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York described Bazrouk’s conduct as persistent and ideologically motivated. According to prosecutors, Bazrouk engaged in three separate assaults targeting visibly Jewish individuals at protests across Manhattan.

The first incident occurred on April 15, 2024, outside the New York Stock Exchange, where Bazrouk—wearing a green headband described by authorities as typical of Hamas members—allegedly kicked a Jewish college student after lunging at pro-Israel protesters. He was arrested on site by NYPD officers.

On December 9, 2024, he allegedly struck again near a university in upper Manhattan. Prosecutors say Bazrouk stole an Israeli flag from two Jewish brothers, chased them through the crowd, and then punched one of them in the face after they retrieved it. Both victims were wearing kippahs and singing Jewish songs.

A third assault occurred on January 6, 2025. According to court documents, Bazrouk—his face covered with a keffiyeh—tripped and punched another Jewish protester who was draped in an Israeli flag and wearing a Star of David chain. The DOJ cited these coordinated attacks as deliberate and hateful in nature.

Digital Evidence of Antisemitic Ideology

Law enforcement obtained and searched Bazrouk’s cellphone, revealing what the DOJ called a “clear antisemitic bias.” The device contained multiple messages where Bazrouk identified himself as a “Jew hater” and referred to Jews as “worthless.” One message said “Allah wants us to get rid of Jews.”

He also reportedly expressed joy upon learning family members were affiliated with Hamas and shared support for anti-Jewish terrorist groups, including Hezbollah. DOJ officials described his phone as “littered with pro-Hamas and pro-Hizballah propaganda.”

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton emphasized that Bazrouk “remained undeterred” despite prior arrests, continuing to use violence against Jewish individuals in public spaces. Clayton called the guilty plea a step toward accountability and reaffirmed the DOJ’s commitment to prosecuting hate-based violence.

While Bazrouk apologized during the hearing, the court will now weigh the severity of the offenses, his conduct, and the ideological motivations behind his actions during sentencing this fall.