A Florida man has been charged with calling a Jewish organization and threatening to kill Jewish people, ABC News reported on Thursday, citing court documents unsealed by the Justice Department the previous day.
Deep Alpesh Kumar Patel, a 21-year-old from Sarasota, Florida, allegedly called the World Jewish Congress in New York City and left a threatening voicemail, authorities said in a release.
"If I had a chance, I would kill every single one of you Israelis," Patel is alleged to have said in an expletive-filled tirade. "Every single one of you! Cause mass genocide of every single Israeli."
When police officers interviewed Patel at his home, they say he confirmed that he made the call but denied threatening anyone.
"When the officers asked Patel to describe the content of the telephone calls, he explained that he had called Jewish centers to express his family's anger with Israel for the genocide of the Palestinian people. Patel stated that he did not intend to scare or threaten anyone, but that he wanted to use the harshest language possible to convey his anger," the complaint filed by the US Attorney for the Middle District of Florida read.
Antisemitism has been on the rise in the US since Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel.
Earlier this week, a Nevada man was charged and accused of leaving a series of antisemitic, profanity-laced voicemails at the office of Jewish Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
Much of the recent antisemitism has been seen on campuses. Rosen was one of the senators who submitted a bipartisan resolution passed by the Senate last week which denounced antisemitism at higher education institutions.
On Sunday, Jewish students at Cornell University were advised to avoid the kosher dining hall at the university after threats were directed at the school’s Jewish students.
This incident occurred after a professor at Cornell said he was “exhilarated” by Hamas’ attack on Israel, and declared that “Hamas has challenged the monopoly of violence”. The professor, Russell Rickford, later apologized.
Last Wednesday, Jewish students at Cooper Union College in New York City were forced to lock themselves inside the library as a mob of anti-Israeli protesters blocked the doors.
About 40 minutes later, security escorted the students out of the building via a tunnel.