Egyptian Diplomatic Staff in New York Accused of Assaulting Protesters Outside Consulate
Two U.S. citizens were assaulted by Egyptian Mission staff during a protest against Egypt's blockade of Gaza; the NYPD charged the brothers despite video evidence suggesting they were victims.
- Video from the scene shows members of the Egyptian Mission to the United Nations dragging Yasin ElSammak, 22, and Ali Elsamak, 15, inside the mission; the New York City Police Department then arrested the brothers earlier this week after they were charged with assaulting two staff members.
- Protesting to demand the Rafah crossing be opened, the brothers urged Egypt to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, citing cutoffs of essential food and water amid warnings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification on Aug. 22 about famine in Gaza's population of over 2 million.
- Footage from activist Husam Khaled alleges guards struck Yasin ElSammak with a chain around his neck, while parents Akram and Olga Elsamak say Yasin had swallowing difficulties and a bruise, and Ali suffered minor elbow injuries.
- At the arraignment and subsequent hearings, charges against Ali were dropped and Yasin's were reduced after family court proceedings, while the Manhattan District Attorney's Office seeks more video and witnesses as the family claims police rebuffed their attempts to press charges.
- Under international law, diplomatic officials receive immunity, complicating prosecution of Egyptian diplomatic staff accused of assault, while leaked recordings of Badr Abdelatty sparked protests in over 16 countries.
32 Articles
32 Articles

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Shocking footage shows pro-Hamas agitators beaten and dragged inside Egypt’s UN Mission. The crackdown followed Foreign Minister Abdelatty’s leaked video on protest tactics. He suggested detaining demonstrators inside embassies before police handover. Ambassador Hanna defended staff, citing daily vandalism attempts. The incident fueled outrage over Egypt’s zero-tolerance stance. Violence is the only language that Muslim […]
Outrage after Egyptian guards drag, beat US protesters at UN mission in New York
Footage shows two brothers assaulted inside Egypt’s UN mission before being arrested by NYPD; parents say both are US citizens protesting for Gaza; charges against one brother dropped, while the other's are reduced after court hearing
NYC to Hague, protests at Egypt embassies over ’Gaza complicity’
Security personnel standing guard at the Egyptian mission at the United Nations in New York have beaten and dragged two teenagers into the mission's headquarters. The two men were part of a protest regarding the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip caused by Israel and called for the Egyptian government to end its "complicity" in Israel's genocide. The incident, caught on video and shared on 21 August, came only days after a …
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