Overview
- The arrest, announced Monday by the Justice Department, charges 28-year-old Zaid Gitesatani with one federal hate crime.
- The indictment says a Jewish man was punched in the jaw on June 23, 2024 near Adas Torah Synagogue during protests over a real-estate event tied to Israel.
- Prosecutors point to Instagram posts that allegedly show the assault and include the message, “Whooped the Zios today and we took their flag,” along with follow-up boasts.
- The FBI is investigating and federal civil-rights prosecutors are bringing the case, which carries up to 10 years in prison if convicted.
- Federal involvement can bring added resources and penalties in bias-motivated violence, which local leaders say has heightened safety fears near Los Angeles synagogues.