Anti-Israel protesters wave Palestinian flags
Anti-Israel protesters wave Palestinian flagsReuters

A Jewish couple in New York were physically assaulted Monday by an anti-Semitic gang, who then fled the scene in cars flying the Palestinian Authority flag, according to the New York Post.

Police sources say two cars and several motorbikes suddenly pulled up next to the couple as they were walking on East 63rd Street near Third Avenue on the Upper East Side, just after 8 p.m. Monday evening.

The attackers then started shouting "anti-Jewish statements,", before launching their assault.

One of the men struck the woman with a water bottle, and another punched her husband in the side of his head as he intervened to defend her.

The victims, who live in the area, were left shaken but not seriously injured, and refused medical treatment at the scene. Their identities have not been released, but the Post said the husband was 27 years old, and that they may have been targeted because he was wearing a kippa (skullcap).

Police have launched an investigation into the hate-crime, but as of Tuesday no arrests have been made and a profile of the suspects has not been released.

There has been a dramatic spike in anti-Semitic crimes since Israel launched Operation Protective Edge to combat rocket fire on its civilians and terrorist infiltration tunnels from Gaza.

Europe has been particularly hard-hit, but several anti-Jewish hate-crimes have also occurred in the US and elsewhere, with anti-Israel and pro-Gaza slogans or sentiments featuring prominently.

According to the World Zionist Organization, last month saw a more than 383% rise in anti-Semitic incidents compared to the same period the previous year.