A recent incident involving two brothers protesting the Gaza war at the Permanent Mission of Egypt to the U.N. in New York City has drawn significant attention. Yasin ElSammak, 22, and his 15-year-old brother Ali were forcibly taken inside the mission and subsequently arrested by police. The brothers, both U.S. citizens, were captured on video being tackled by authorities, with onlookers expressing distress over the situation.
Witness Husam Khaled, who recorded the event, had initially attempted to lock the doors to the Egyptian Mission but returned when he realized the brothers were not following. Khaled claims Yasin was struck in the neck, while Ali was pinned against a wall. He argued with police, emphasizing that the brothers were not involved in violent actions.
Tensions were further escalated by a unverified video allegedly showing Egyptian officials instructing staff to detain protesters. After the incident, Yasin faced assault charges, while Ali was charged with assault and strangulation—although his charges were later dropped in family court. Claiming their sons were beaten and unjustly arrested on American soil, their parents criticized the police and argued that the protest was merely about humanitarian aid for Gazan children.
The parents, immigrants from Egypt and Russia, stated their sons’ actions stemmed from a desire to advocate for children in Gaza. The group “Within Our Lifetime,” a Palestinian-led organization, condemned the incident as part of Egypt’s oppressive tactics extending beyond its borders. Egypt’s role in the ongoing conflict has been under scrutiny, with accusations of complicity in the humanitarian crisis, which the Egyptian government vehemently denies, attributing responsibility solely to Israel’s actions.
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