HERAKLION, Crete – A recently discharged Israeli soldier who was savagely beaten in Greece was saved from even more serious injury when the attackers reportedly stopped after seeing he was wearing a cross and wasn’t Jewish, but an Arab Christian.

The assault happened in Malia on Crete where Fahad Qubati, 24, was traveling with relatives and hospitalized with injuries to his jaw and head, said YNet News, his mother said the attackers fled after seeing the cross he was wearing, calling it an attempted murder that was condemned by Greek authorities.

https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skozfi9000

“I pray for my son’s recovery and will pursue this case until the attackers are punished,” she said, Greece’s embassy in Israel saying an investigation is ongoing and “All Israelis are welcome in Greece, which is a totally safe tourist destination.”

A young Jewish man who witnessed the scene told Ynet, “There were about 12 people there, some of whom were club security guards,” and said he and his friend tried to hide in an alley from them.

“I heard everyone running, and when I looked to see what was happening, I saw one of the motorcyclists chasing my friends with a gun. For half an hour, I didn’t know if they were alive,” he said of the worry.

He added that, “When I got to the hotel, one of my friends told me that the guy on the motorcycle threatened them with the weapon, saying, ‘We know where you are staying, leave the hotel today. We are coming.’ It was terrifying; we survived by a miracle. The whole world must know about these serious acts,” he said.

Another eyewitness told the site that, “The attack was severe and purely based on racism. I thought Fahad would be murdered. He received a brutal beating, but if we had intervened, they would have killed us. We are tourists. In the end, everyone will believe the attackers and abandon us.”

Israel’s ongoing invasion of the Gaza Strip in a hunt for Hamas terrorists who killed more than 1200 Israelis in October, 2023 raids has seen a backlash of protests, including in Greece, as it’s killed more than 38,000 people.