The court convicted 7 additional individuals involved in the violent attack on Saeed Musa from Ramla during Operation "Guardian of the Walls" on the Bat Yam promenade. It was determined that most acted out of nationalist and racist motives. The judge: "The victim found himself fighting for his life against an angry mob that attacked him repeatedly"

Five years after the lynching attempt on the Bat Yam promenade during Operation "Guardian of the Walls", the Tel Aviv District Court ruled today (Thursday) regarding seven defendants involved in the attack on Saeed Musa from Ramla. Judge Sarit Zamir determined that most acted out of nationalist and racist motives and convicted them of serious offenses - including a terrorist act of aggravated assault with intent. "The victim found himself fighting for his life against an angry mob that repeatedly attacked him with brutality - solely because he is Arab", she described in the verdict.

According to the consolidated indictment filed following the events of May 12 2021 during the fighting days of the operation a social media mobilization began to harm Arabs and Arab-owned businesses on the Bat Yam promenade. It was noted that dozens arrived at the scene vandalized and looted businesses and later attacked Musa who was identified as Arab. The indictment further described how a mob chased his vehicle pulled him out by force beat him with fists kicks batons tasers and a scooter causing him severe injuries - including fractures to his face eye sockets and teeth along with additional bodily harm.

The prosecution argued the acts were carried out from a clear nationalist and racist motive as part of the atmosphere prevailing in those days. Among the evidence numerous recordings from security cameras street cameras media outlets and civilians were presented. The defendants countered that they did not act from racist or ideological motives.

Some claimed they believed at the time it was a ramming attack and that the complainant was a terrorist who needed to be neutralized. Others argued they arrived at the promenade by chance were not part of any prior organization and did not act in concert with the other participants. Several defendants admitted to certain acts captured on camera but claimed it was a spontaneous response to an event they perceived as an attack. In addition claims of selective enforcement and justice defense were raised.

The judge rejected the core defense claims and determined that the visual documentation of the event carried decisive weight. She stated "The visual documentation reflects the occurrence as it was" and that it demonstrates "the brutal attack on the complainant solely on the basis of his identification as Arab". She further wrote that "where defendants seek to attribute to the documentation an interpretation that substantially deviates from the conclusion arising from it on its face a real clear and convincing basis is required" and that most defendants failed to present such a basis.

In the verdict the judge ruled that David Butiar was convicted of a terrorist act of aggravated assault with intent in concert and theft but acquitted of theft from a racist motive. Moshe Mansour was convicted of a terrorist act of aggravated assault with intent in concert. Maor Mugrabi was convicted of a terrorist act of aggravated assault with intent in concert and acquitted of rioting. Osher Itgav was acquitted of the terrorism offense but convicted of aggravated assault with intent in concert.

Yitzhak Goita was acquitted of the terrorism offense but convicted of three counts of incitement to terrorism four counts of incitement to racism and malicious damage to a vehicle from a racist motive. Goita wrote among other things in WhatsApp groups the messages "Today we do not stay silent!!!" and "An Arab man is an Arab in a mass grave my brothers". In addition he published a call to come to the Bat Yam promenade to "restore Jewish honor". Tamir Srur was convicted of a terrorist act rioting resulting in damage from a racist motive and malicious damage to a vehicle and Yitzhak Saban was also convicted of a terrorist act of aggravated assault with intent in concert.

At the conclusion of the verdict the judge wrote: "A severe violent event with clear nationalist ideological characteristics" took place that evening on the Bat Yam promenade. She described how "the mob rushed toward the complainant's vehicle" and how he was repeatedly beaten after being pulled from it. According to her "nothing is better than the evidence of one's own eyes" and the filmed documentation clearly indicates the mood at the scene the defendants' actions and the motive underlying their deeds.

To date the sentences of six additional defendants involved in the lynching attempt have been handed down. The heaviest sentence was imposed on the central defendant Netanel Benjamin who was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison for attempted murder under terrorist circumstances.