A video has surfaced showing two U.S. citizen brothers, Yasin ElSammak (22) and Ali Elsamak (15), being forcibly pulled into Egypt’s Permanent Mission to the U.N. in New York City during a protest against the Gaza war. The incident, recorded by fellow protester Husam Khaled, escalated as Yasin attempted to lock the doors of the mission. The video depicts the brothers being tackled by officials, with shouts from onlookers expressing concern for their safety.
Khaled alleged that Yasin was struck with a chain and that he tried to intervene, emphasizing the brothers’ lack of involvement in any wrongdoing. In a related controversy, reports surfaced claiming a leaked phone call between Egyptian officials instructed staff to grab protesters and alert police.
The police later charged Yasin with assault and Ali with assault and strangulation in connection to injuries sustained by Egyptian mission staff members. The ElSammak parents, who were not present during the incident, expressed distress over their sons’ treatment, with Akram ElSammak stating that their children were “kidnapped and beaten” on U.S. soil. Following the incident, Yasin’s charges were reduced to a misdemeanor, and Ali’s were dropped.
The brothers joined the protest to advocate for humanitarian aid for Gazan children. Their father lamented that their protest aimed merely at allowing children to access food and medical assistance. The incident has been described by the Palestinian-led organization, “Within Our Lifetime,” as an extension of Egypt’s repression beyond its borders. The broader geopolitical context involves Egypt, Qatar, and the U.S. orchestrating ceasefire talks amidst ongoing tensions in the region, with critics blaming Egypt for the humanitarian crisis by allegedly enabling Israel’s blockade of Gaza.
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