Two Jewish men were attacked outside a restaurant in San Jose, California, on Sunday after they were heard speaking Hebrew, according to local media reports.
The assault took place outside the Augustine restaurant in the Santana Row shopping district. Video recorded by witnesses shows three individuals confronting and beating the victims while they waited to be seated.
One of the men, who asked not to be identified, described the sudden violence in an interview with local media. “I just turned around, and they literally started punching,” he said. “We got swarmed very badly. I’m in a lot of pain. I still cannot chew. My jaw hurts, my back is hurting.”
Both victims required medical treatment following the assault. One was knocked unconscious and later received stitches.
Police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.
According to the victims, they had no prior interaction with the attackers and did not recognize them before the confrontation. Witnesses reported hearing the assailants shout political slogans during the attack.
Reports of Israelis being violently attacked in San Jose, California, after assailants heard them speaking Hebrew at the Augustine restaurant in Santana Row. pic.twitter.com/u9sCvC8T96
— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) March 10, 2026
Attackers Shout “Don’t Mess With Iran”
“One of the witnesses said that they heard them saying, ‘don’t mess with Iran,’ which we don’t know why,” one of the victims said. “We don’t have any problem with them. But, I heard at the beginning of the fight, something with, ‘F the Jews’.”
The Bay Area Jewish Community Relations Council later identified the victims as Israeli Americans.
Local and national officials condemned the assault. U.S. Representative Sam Liccardo, who previously served as mayor of San Jose, called the attack said the attack represents a threat to the entire community. “Violence targeting any members of our community — including our Jewish and Israeli community members — amounts to an attack on all of us,” he wrote on social media.
San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan also addressed the incident, stating that hatred and antisemitism had no place in the city. “Antisemitism and all acts of hatred have no place in San Jose,” Mahan wrote. “Being able to talk about our differences and celebrate them is what makes us the safest big city in America.”
Mahan added that he had been in contact with local police and Jewish communal leaders as the investigation continued.
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.