Washington, D.C. – [2/17/25] – United Voices calls on law enforcement to bring federal hate crime and domestic terrorism charges against Mordechai Brafman, a pro-Israel extremist who attempted to murder two men in Miami Beach after reportedly believing they were Palestinian.

Brafman, 27, allegedly made a U-turn, stopped in front of the victims’ vehicle, and fired 17 rounds unprovoked, striking both individuals. While in custody, he reportedly admitted, “I saw two Palestinians and shot and killed both,” even though his victims survived. This was a clear premeditated hate crime—an attempt to execute Palestinians based solely on their perceived identity.

Also disturbing is the response of one of the victims, who falsely claimed the attack was an “anti-Semitic” incident and posted “Death to the Arabs” online after surviving the shooting. This reveals the deep-seated anti-Palestinian hatred among both the shooter and his targets—both of whom, despite their violent encounter, share a common ideology of dehumanizing Palestinians.

This incident highlights the dangerous levels of incitement and extremism among pro-Israel extremists in the U.S. and abroad. The shooter’s admission leaves no doubt about his intent: to kill based on racial and political hatred. The U.S. government must recognize this for what it is—an act of domestic terrorism—and prosecute accordingly.

United Voices condemns both the shooter’s attempted hate-fueled execution and the victims’ blatant anti-Arab racism. Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim communities should not be forced to choose between being targeted by Zionist violence or erased from the narrative by those who use real hate crimes to further their own supremacist ideology.

Law enforcement must act decisively: Hate crimes cannot be selectively prosecuted based on political convenience. The double standard that allows anti-Palestinian violence to go unchecked must end.

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