Jewish group expresses support for man who shot anti-Israel attacker

Hayes was immediately arrested and charged with assault with a dangerous weapon. His attacker, Caleb Gannon, who claims to be Jewish and has posted anti-American and anti-Israel posts on social media calling for violence, was not arrested at the scene but was charged with assault on Friday. He was taken to a nearby hospital after the gunshot wound and is expected to recover.

Betar is demanding that the charges against Hayes be dropped.

“The people of Newton should be afraid and leave quickly if those in power are essentially telling them that they cannot legally protest or defend themselves if they are violently attacked,” Michael Sinensky, CEO of Betar USA, told the Washington Examiner“This is a simple case of self-defense… The charges against Scott Hayes should be dropped immediately.”

On Friday, a video of the incident emerged, which was taken by the Daily Wirewhich shows Gannon charging across the street to attack Hayes, who was attending a pro-Israel demonstration before being shot in the stomach during the struggle.

Betar is in contact with Hayes and is supporting him by funding his defense with a GoFundMe campaign and supporting a petition calling for the charges to be dropped. A spokesman for Betar told Washington Examiner that the group has spoken to members of the Newton community and will be present in the city in the event of a trial. “We will not remain silent.”

“We say shame on Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan for bringing charges against Scott Hayes,” the spokesman said. “Would it have been better if [Hayes] was suffocated?”

The Washington Examiner asked Ryan for comment.

“I do not condemn Hamas”: Gannon’s posts calling for violence before the attack

Before his attack on Hayes, Gannon had previously supported violence in anti-American and anti-Israel social media posts. His X account was suspended on Saturday, but the Washington Examiner still has screenshots of his posts.

In a May 29 post, he wrote, “I do not condemn Hamas” for its mass slaughter, rape, torture and kidnapping of Israelis, but instead said, “I condemn my family” for failing to recognize what he called “blatant genocide” in the Gaza Strip.

On September 1, Gannon responded to a post by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken mourning the death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was executed by Hamas after his kidnapping on October 7, 2023. Gannon wrote, “He was a terrorist in a foreign land and got what he deserved.”

On July 19, he responded to a post by Republican Rep. Brian Mast of Florida, who described how he “lost two legs, a finger, and countless friends in Afghanistan” and an IED exploded beneath him. Gannon wrote, “If only that IED had been stronger… what a shame.”

On July 4, Gannon falsely claimed that “Israel was responsible for most of the deaths” in the October 7 terrorist attack, pretending that this was an “established fact” rather than a “matter of opinion.”

He also reposted an August 30 post that said, “The proper response to Zionists feeling unsafe on college campuses is, 'Well, Zionists should feel unsafe everywhere.'”

Gannon's pinned post on his now-locked X profile was one from August 28 in which he called for the “end” of the US government, which he described as a “rogue terrorist organization.” On August 5, he wrote, “America is so fucked up. America is no hope for anyone, and the world will finally begin to heal a great wound when the United States is disintegrated.”

A spokesman for Betar told the Washington Examiner“Caleb Gannon's past makes it clear that he wants to destroy America and supports the murder of innocent Americans like Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Gannon is a terrorist supporter who has attacked peaceful protesters. Drop all charges immediately.”

“America is in turmoil,” the spokesman said. “Israel supporters are being attacked across the country and cannot protect themselves in the event of an attack? What does that say to Jews and those who stand with Israel?”

Betar warns of violence on campus after escalation last semester

“Are college students safe when they are attacked?” asked a Betar spokesman. He said that if a peaceful protester can be charged for self-defense, “how can someone [on campus] Do you feel safe protecting yourself?”

“Harvard parents, be careful,” he added. “If your student is attacked by a Hamas supporter, the local prosecutor will put you in jail if you react too violently.”

The speaker referred to the camp on Syracuse University's campus last semester, where a convicted murderer was arrested by campus police, and asked how students can feel safe when “they can't even defend themselves.”

During the escalation on campus last semester, anti-Israel protesters took over entire areas of campus, setting up camp at over 130 schools and violently occupying university buildings at many others. As anti-Israel activity on campus increased, anti-Semitic incidents skyrocketed, leaving many Jewish students feeling unsafe on campus, over 100 civil rights investigations launched due to reports of anti-Semitism, and thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested.

Before the fall semester, anti-Israel groups gave the Washington ExaminerThey promised to return with “new energy” and vowed that there would be “no peace” on campus until their demands were met. Just two weeks into September, they have fulfilled their promise.

On the first day of classes at Columbia University, two anti-Israel protesters were arrested after the group vandalized a historic statue. At the University of Michigan, four people were arrested during the first week of the new semester after protesters disrupted a university event. At the University of Pittsburgh, a group of Jewish students were attacked with a glass bottle, injuring two.

On Thursday, a group of anti-Israel protesters disrupted the University of Washington's Board of Trustees meeting as Jewish leaders expressed concerns about anti-Semitism on campus.

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Betar is a pro-Israel organization that provides free legal assistance to any American charged in defending themselves against anti-Israel violence. It has offices in numerous countries, including France, Australia and Uruguay, and its former leaders include former Israeli prime ministers Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Shamir and Benzion Netanyahu, the father of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The group will hold a rally against anti-Semitism at 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sept. 24 in front of the Regency Hotel in New York City, where Netanyahu will be staying, before delivering his speech to the United Nations General Assembly. They expect thousands of participants to gather “in a show of support” and deliver a “simple” message: “Stand with Israel. Stand with the Israeli Defense Forces. America: Hands off Israel.”