Two Israeli tourists were stabbed on Friday while walking along Ermou Street, a high-end shopping district in the heart of Athens.
One of the attackers, a man from the Gaza Strip, was apprehended at the scene, while his accomplice managed to escape, according to a report in Ynet.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that the detained suspect had previously participated in anti-Israel demonstrations. Officials also noted that the terrorists specifically targeted the Israelis upon hearing them speak Hebrew, and after noticing that one of them was wearing a Star of David necklace.
The victims sustained injuries but did not require hospitalization, according to the ministry.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that the two Israelis—possibly a couple—had been returning to their hotel after dining at a restaurant when they were assaulted.
This violent act is the latest in a troubling pattern of attacks against Israelis and Jews in Greece. In 2023, Greek authorities arrested two Pakistani nationals in Athens for plotting terror attacks against Jewish and Israeli sites. According to Greek media, the suspects—who were of Iranian origin—were targeting a kosher restaurant and a synagogue.
The Mossad played a crucial role in exposing the terror plot, revealing that the detained Pakistanis were part of a larger Iranian-backed terror network operating across multiple countries.
Greece has seen a significant influx of migrants from the Middle East in recent years. According to the International Rescue Committee, over 214,000 refugees and nearly 20,000 asylum-seekers have arrived in the country. In 2019 alone, the U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported that Greece hosted large numbers of migrants from Afghanistan, Syria, Iran, and Congo.
The growing presence of radicalized elements among these migrant populations raises serious security concerns for Jewish communities and Israeli travelers in Europe.
Based on content by JNS.
