A man accused of a string of antisemitic assaults in New York City pleaded guilty to federal hate crime changes on Tuesday.
Saadah Masoud, 29, of Staten Island, faces a maximum of five years in prison, the Associated Press reported.
Masoud allegedly beat up Matt Greenman, who is Jewish, in April due to his “actual and perceived religion” after a pro-Palestinian demonstration on April 20 in Manhattan, according to a criminal complaint filed by the Manhattan US Attorney’s office, the New York Post reported.
Greenman was part of a pro-Israel counter protest. He had the Israeli flag draped around himself when he was attacked. The 28-year-old was rushed to the hospital where he was treated for a concussion and other injuries, according to the criminal complaint.
In the now unsealed June 10 complaint, special agent Lavalle Jackson testified that Masoud had been part of two other assaults against Jews in 2021. Prosecutors said that he also threatened pro-Israel supporters on Instagram, writing, “I wish I could show you the things I do to Zionists but I can’t post them” and “I feel bad for you Zionist people when judgment day comes and we slaughter all of them like sheep.”
Masoud was arrested in June.
Manhattan US Attorney Damian Williams described Masoud as “deliberately targeting three victims because of their religion and nation of origin.”