A man in Florida, Mordechai Brafman, has been charged with attempted murder after shooting two Israeli Jewish tourists in Miami Beach. Brafman, who is also Jewish, claimed he thought the victims were Palestinian due to mental health issues. The victims were not seriously injured, and he faces two counts of second-degree attempted murder.
Brafman’s lawyer stated that his client had no prior history of violence and was cooperating with law enforcement. The lawyer attributed the incident to a severe mental health crisis that compromised Brafman’s ability to make sound judgments. Brafman is being held in jail without bond, with his next hearing scheduled for Friday. He and his lawyer are committed to working with medical professionals to ensure he receives appropriate treatment.
The incident comes amid a surge in identity-related violence targeting Muslims, Arabs, and Jews following the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Advocacy groups have reported an increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic speech online and related violence globally. In response, the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has called for hate crime charges against Brafman, highlighting his biased motives.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office is reportedly considering hate crime charges, while Brafman’s lawyer has not commented on this aspect of the case. Despite the traumatic event, the victims are out of the hospital and recovering. The incident underscores the need to address mental health issues and combat hate-fueled violence in society.
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