Israeli Tourist Hospitalized After Syrian Migrant Assault in Athens Amid Surge of Anti-Israel Hostility in Greece

By: Fern Sidman

A disturbing assault on an Israeli tourist in Athens has once again spotlighted the rising tide of hostility faced by Israeli nationals traveling through parts of Europe. According to a detailed report on World Israel News, the incident occurred earlier this week at Bolivar Beach, a popular coastal destination in the Greek capital, where a Syrian migrant reportedly harassed and then violently attacked a group of Israeli tourists, biting off part of a man’s ear during the altercation.

The victim, identified as Stav Ben Shushan, remains hospitalized following the attack, which unfolded in what authorities describe as a politically charged confrontation. World Israel News reported that Ben Shushan and his wife were socializing with fellow Israelis at the beach when the Syrian migrant approached them, loudly proclaiming anti-Israel slogans and filming the group on his phone. According to eyewitness accounts and Ben Shushan’s own report, the assailant shouted “Free Palestine,” “Damn Israel,” and declared, “I am Hamas,” in an apparent act of provocation.

When the man began throwing sand at the Israeli tourists, Ben Shushan responded by pushing him away. Beach security personnel intervened and removed the individual from the premises. However, the situation escalated when the migrant returned an hour later, allegedly attempting to attack Ben Shushan’s wife. In the struggle that followed, the man bit into Ben Shushan’s ear, severing part of it. As the World Israel News report confirmed, Greek police arrested the suspect, who subsequently filed a counterclaim accusing the Israeli tourist of making racist remarks—an allegation that has not been substantiated by any of the witnesses present at the scene.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry has responded forcefully to the incident, citing deliberate targeting of Israeli nationals by a group of Syrian migrants. “One of the individuals later attacked the Israeli man while he was in the water, biting his ear and causing a serious injury,” a ministry spokesperson said in a statement cited in the World Israel News report. The ministry further confirmed that it is closely coordinating with Greek authorities to ensure justice for the victim and has been in direct contact with Ben Shushan and his family.

This violent episode comes amid a pattern of escalating anti-Israel incidents in Greece, where hostility toward Israeli tourists appears to be rising. Just weeks ago, World Israel News reported that a group of young Israelis vacationing on the island of Rhodes were assaulted by Turkish tourists in what local police have categorized as a nationalistically motivated attack. The Israeli victims in that case sustained minor injuries, and diplomatic officials intervened to ensure their safety and repatriation.

The situation intensified further last week when demonstrators on the island of Syros disrupted a scheduled stop of the Crown Iris, a cruise ship operated by Israeli company Mano Maritime. As the World Israel News report explained, a crowd of roughly 200 protestors waving Palestinian flags assembled at the port ahead of the ship’s arrival, chanting anti-Israel slogans and physically blocking access to the pier.

One Israeli passenger aboard the ship, identified only by her first name, Daniella, spoke with Hebrew-language media from the deck. “They won’t let us off the ship… they knew we were coming and waited for us,” she said, describing the demonstration as a premeditated ambush. Videos shared on social media showed Israeli passengers responding by waving national flags and singing Hebrew songs in defiance.

In the wake of these developments, security concerns for Israeli travelers in the Mediterranean region are mounting. While Greece remains a popular destination among Israeli tourists—who number in the hundreds of thousands annually—recent events have prompted calls for heightened vigilance and increased coordination between Israeli and Greek authorities. World Israel News has indicated that travel advisories may be under review, particularly in light of attacks that appear to involve organized efforts to identify and target Israeli nationals.

As the investigation into the Athens beach assault continues, diplomatic officials from both nations are working to contain the fallout. Israeli representatives in Athens have reiterated that the attack on Ben Shushan was not an isolated act but part of a disturbing pattern of anti-Israel aggression. The assailant’s invocation of Hamas and his inflammatory statements, according to sources cited by World Israel News, underscore the ideological motivations behind the violence.

Meanwhile, the Ben Shushan family is said to be receiving support from both the Israeli consulate and local authorities in Athens as medical treatment and legal proceedings move forward. It remains to be seen whether formal charges will be filed under hate crime statutes, though Israeli officials have made clear their intention to pursue the matter to its fullest extent.