Pro-Palestinian protester ‘stalked’ Jewish man before fatal punch

An elderly Jewish man was allegedly followed by a pro-Palestinian activist during a protest in LA before being hit with a megaphone, later dying of his injuries. WARNING: DISTURBING

A Jewish man who died following a clash between pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protesters in California was “stalked” by his alleged attacker, who then struck him with a megaphone moments before his fatal fall, a witness has claimed.

“[The man] crossed the street because, as I said, he stalked us … he came over here with the megaphone in his hand to do the same thing,” witness Jonathan Oswaks said of how the man he claims attacked 69-year-old Paul Kessler first approached him and put a megaphone against his ear, according to the Jewish Journal.

Jonathan Oswaks (L), speaks at the site of an altercation between 69-year-old Paul Kessler, who was Jewish, and pro-Palestinian protester in LA. Picture: getty Images/AFP

When Oswaks, also 69, warned the man to “get that f***ing thing out of my ear”, the alleged attacker moved on to Kessler who was standing across the street holding an Israeli flag, Oswaks claimed.

“Then all of a sudden, I see a punch. The reason I know I could see the punch was because it was the white megaphone flying through the air,” he said.

Kessler was said to have fallen backwards, hitting his head on the ground where he sustained serious injuries. He was taken to the hospital, where he died on Monday.

“I was broken when I heard [of his death],” Oswaks told the Los Angeles Times.

Oswaks, who is Jewish and works as an engineer, said he met Kessler just a couple weeks earlier.

Unverified footage online purported to show the moments immediately before and after Paul Kessler was allegedly struck in the head. Picture: Supplied

Onlookers rushed to his aid and administered treatment, but the 69-year-old succumbed to his injuries in hospital a day later. Picture: Supplied

According to the New York Post, the pair counterprotested a Pro-Palestinian demonstration together on October 29, where they were pushed into the street by an aggressive protester who then flashed a gun at them, Oswaks claimed.

Oswaks said he could not identify the culprit to police because the demonstrators had changed their masks and hoods.

Undeterred, Oswaks and Kessler organised a larger showing at a Pro-Palestinian protest on Sunday.

Chalk artist Elana Colombo draws the Star of David around the blood of Paul Kessler, a Jewish man who died during a protest in LA. Picture: AFP

While the men waited by a fountain at the appointed intersection, Oswaks got a call from a friend who said that his face was in a social media live and that he was “being watched,” he alleged.

Oswaks said he looked up and saw three men sitting on a bench, filming them.

“One of those men I recognise as the [attacker],” he claimed.

pic.twitter.com/e9r13j1RjU

— Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles (@JFedLA) November 7, 2023

“The other man was an extreme agitator. The other fellow was just a young fellow, I couldn’t tell much about him.”

Oswaks and Kessler then met with Kessler’s friend, who brought an Israeli flag, an American flag, and a Gadsden flag, he explained.

“Paul insisted on holding the Israeli flag,” Oswaks recalled.

“I asked him at least three times to give it to me. Paul was a lot smaller than I am. He was like David. He was proud to hold that flag against the giant.”

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles condemned the attack.

A demonstrator at a makeshift memorial for Paul Kessler. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

“Violence against our people has no place in civilised society. We demand safety,” the group said in a statement.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office said an autopsy determined the manner of death as homicide caused by blunt force head injury.

“Upon arrival, responding deputies located Kessler, who was suffering from a head injury. Witness accounts indicated that Kessler was involved in a physical altercation with counter-protester (s),” police said in a statement.

Content warning ⚠️ - an elderly Jewish man has been killed by a pro Palestinian protestor who hit him over the head with a megaphone at yesterday’s Israel rally.

Sadly, the victim has passed away from internal bleeding.

May his memory be a blessing and his attacker be… pic.twitter.com/41ZXNutwvK

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) November 7, 2023

“During the altercation, Kessler fell backwards and struck his head on the ground.

Police did not confirm what caused the initial head injury, but Moshe Bryski, a local rabbi from Chabad of Agoura Hills, told The New York Post the death was a “tragedy” that left Kessler’s wife in “a state of total shock”.

“You don’t expect people to go to a rally and not come home,” Bryski said.

While no arrests had been made, police were planning to hold a press conference in relation to the investigation shortly.

Unverified footage circulating on social media claimed to show the incident, with a man on the ground as two people come to his aid.

A woman places flowers at the site where a Jewish man was killed in Los Angeles. Picture: AFP

Michael Barclay, a local rabbi who has been in contact with the police, told The Post a man allegedly involved in the altercation was interviewed by investigators.

Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell said in a statement he was “heartbroken” over the death.

“I’m heartbroken to hear of the tragic death of an elderly man today after having been struck at a protest in my district,” he posted on X.

“My prayers are with this man’s family and friends. Our whole community grieves at this senseless loss of life. I call for peace in our community.”

HOPE FOR GIRL FEARED DEAD

An eight-year-old Irish girl whose father said it was a “blessing” she had died after Hamas’s invasion of Israel is apparently alive.

Emily Hand, eight, was believed to be among the dozens of civilians killed at Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7.

But now the Irish Embassy in Israel and Emily’s family say she could still be alive.

“We were told that she had been murdered. We were in mourning,” Emily’s half-sister, Natalie, 26, said according to the Times of Israel.

“On October 31, they told us that it was highly likely that she had been abducted.”

The Times of Israel cites an embassy official saying that tests had shown her DNA was not found among the victims at the kibbutz.

Emily Hand could still be alive, her family says. Picture: Supplied

In a heartfelt message to Emily, Natalie said: “I want to tell you that we are doing everything to get you home. We know you are being held hostage. We love you so much and miss you.”

Emily was staying with a neighbour in the settlement about 5km from the Gaza border at the time of the bloody siege.

Israeli soldiers regained control of the Kibbutz after a number of days.

The bodies of more than 100 residents were recovered – with Emily believed to be among them.

At the time her father Thomas said he was grateful she was dead rather than suffer at the hands of Hamas.

“They just said: ‘We found Emily, and she’s dead’,” he said.

“And I went: ‘Yes!’ And smiled.”

Mr Hand said that was the “best news of the possibilities”.

He feared she would be among those captured and taken to Gaza.

“She was either dead or in Gaza — and if you know anything about what they do to people in Gaza, that is worse than death,” he said.

Mr Hand feared she would be denied food or water — and would be terrified and alone for “possible years”.

“So death was a blessing,” Hand said. “An absolute blessing.”

Originally published as Pro-Palestinian protester ‘stalked’ Jewish man before fatal punch