A Hamas supporter who attacked a pro-Israel demonstrator in Newton, Massachusetts, on Thursday was shot by the man he tackled, who turned out to be an Iraq War veteran carrying a firearm. The incident is now under investigation.
The video shows the Hamas supporter shouting accusations of “genocide” and inflating casualty numbers in the Gaza conflict. After a brief verbal exchange with one of the pro-Israel demonstrators, the Hamas supporter charged across the street and tackled him to the ground.
What the attacker didn’t know was that the man he assaulted was a veteran who had a legally owned gun. In the midst of the scuffle, the veteran pulled out his weapon and fired, hitting the Hamas supporter in the stomach. It is unclear if the shot was intentional or accidental.
The wounded man was treated on the scene by the very people he had attacked and is reportedly in stable condition at a local hospital. The veteran was taken into police custody for further investigation.
Given Massachusetts’ gun laws, which generally discourage the use of firearms in altercations, the veteran’s actions will be carefully reviewed. If he can demonstrate that he acted in self-defense and feared for his life, he may avoid legal consequences.
