Israeli Jew Kidnapped in the UK by Three Muslims

Itay Kashti, an Israeli music producer and composer living in the UK, was kidnapped and beaten by three Muslims because he is an Israeli Jew. He narrowly escaped and saved his own life.

When Itay received an email from a record company’s executive inviting him to a songwriting retreat, he wasn’t suspicious at all. Itay receives invitations like this all the time.

He looked into the program and even spoke to the organizer, and everything checked out fine.

All of the details were taken care of. The Airbnb in Carmarthenshire was booked for him, and his cab ride, which was to pick him up from his London home, was scheduled as well.

Upon arriving at the country cottage, he was met with a scene out of a horror movie. Three men, Faiz Shah, 23, Mohammad Comrie, 23, and Elijah Ogunnubi-Sime, 20, appeared out of nowhere and attacked Itay, beating him and kicking him until he bled. They also assaulted the cab driver, who had been helping with the luggage.

All three were wearing face-like rubber masks to conceal their true identity. The taxi driver was able to run away and call the police, but Itay was not so lucky.

Itay Kashti

They handcuffed Itay to a radiator, and then unbelievable, they left him alone. While by himself, Itay noticed that he was attached to a disconnected pipe. This enabled him to unhook himself, find his phone, and run away to a nearby bush close to the property. He used his phone to call his wife who then informed the police as well.

Itay described his ordeal as horrifying. He thought that he was going to be killed. While alone and injured, he recalled his ancestors who had survived the Holocaust and the hostages in Gaza kidnapped by Hamas. If not for his kidnappers’ lack of sophistication, Itay is quite certain that he would have been killed.

While the kidnappers’ execution of their plan was amateur, their planning was premeditated and sophisticated.

They spent time making a list of items to purchase for the kidnapping, including ketamine to drug Itay, handcuffs, a fake gun, and a blindfold, among other paraphernalia. While they went after Itay for monetary reasons, there were radical religious motivations at play as well.

In the chat that the kidnappers created for this endeavor, they claimed, “We all believe 100% in Allah, so we cannot fail.”

The three agreed to hide their true Jihadist intentions to avoid a more severe sentence if their plan was foiled.

Once captured by authorities, the defendants faced a British court to receive their punishment. Although they at first pleaded not guilty, by day two of the proceedings, they pleaded guilty.

But they still have no remorse.

The kidnappers, who met online through their common hatred of Jews, believed that Itay profited financially from West Bank settlements. They also saw that he had attended pro-Israel rallies, which they believed justified their heinous crimes. One of the men claimed, “No remorse for a man like this, he ain’t just some Jew doing it for the bag [money], he actually loves this s@%!”

A few weeks ago, the assailants were sentenced to eight years in jail.

Judge Catherine Richards expressed she had “no doubt” that Itay was selected and then targeted due to “his wealth and Jewish heritage.”

The judge added, “[The defendants] seemed to justify action against the victim in this case based on his background, as if he was less worthy of your respect and compassion, and [that is] utterly abhorrent to any right-thinking person.”

The three kidnappers

Itay Kashti has been rattled to the core by the events he endured, saying the attack felt like his “own personal October 7^th.” He no longer feels safe in his community and isn’t sure how he will be able to continue to make a living, given what has happened.

He stated, “A heavy weight has been added to my shoulders, which is unlikely to go away any time soon. As though something dramatic is about to happen at all times.”

Despite the horrific nature of this kidnapping, a blatant act of antisemitism committed in the UK, mainstream media has barely mentioned this story.

Attacks on Jews in all forms must stop. We must not continue to turn a blind eye to antisemitism.

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