A pro-Israeli protestor from Thousand Oaks died after a pro-Palestinian protestor allegedly hit him over the head with a bullhorn during a clash between the two groups Sunday.
Ynet News confirmed that Paul Kessler, 69, died of internal bleeding after the blow to the head.
“According to witnesses at the scene, a verbal altercation broke out between an older Jewish man and a pro-Palestinian protester,” that outlet reported. “Suddenly, the protester struck the older man on the head with a megaphone he was holding.”
Ynet News said that video of the incident was captured on the victim’s phone and that the police took possession of the phone to use the video as evidence.
The non-profit group Stop Antisemitism posted a short video clip showing Kessler (pictured above) bleeding on the ground.
“May his memory be a blessing and his attacker be prosecuted to the fullest degree of the law!”
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
Other nonprofits offered condolences and noted a rise in antisemitism in the United States.
“We are devastated to learn of the tragic death of an elderly Jewish man who was struck in the head by a megaphone wielded by a pro- Palestinian protestor in Westlake Village. Our hearts are with the family of the victim,” said the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles. “While we wait for more information from our law enforcement partners, we remind you that this is the fourth major antisemitic crime committed in Los Angeles this year alone. Violence against our people has no place in civilized society. We demand safety. We will not tolerate violence against our community. We will do everything in our power to prevent it.”
According to Monday a Daily Mail report, the authorities are asking anyone else with video footage of the incident to come forward and assist with their investigation.
The publication also said that a “58-year-old suspect has not yet been named or arrested, but police say he is cooperating with their investigation.”
Kessler’s manner of death was determined to be a homicide.
“It is a medical, legal determination,” said Ventura County Chief Medical Examiner Christopher Young. “It simply states that the death occurred at the hands of another person… [but] homicide does not indicate that a crime has been committed. That is a determination to be made by the DA’s office.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter.
Photo “Jason Kessler” by StopAntiSemitism.
