Palestinian taxi driver recounts surviving attack by right-wing protesters

[CryptoCactus]

A harrowing account of survival has emerged from a Palestinian taxi driver who was attacked by a group of right-wing protesters in Jerusalem's Old City earlier this week.

The 35-year-old driver, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of retribution, recounted his terrifying experience to our correspondent. According to the driver, he had been working a standard shift when he found himself caught in the crossfire between rival groups of protesters. With no clear explanation or warning, he was suddenly surrounded by angry onlookers wielding sticks and stones.

"I was just doing my job, driving people around the city," the driver said, his voice shaking as he recounted the events of that fateful day. "And then suddenly, I'm in the middle of a battle zone. People were shouting, hitting each other - it was chaos."

The driver described how he had managed to fend off several attackers by using his taxi's metal door as a makeshift shield. However, despite his bravery, he claimed that one protester had managed to grab him and throw him onto the ground.

"I thought I was going to die," the driver said, fighting back tears. "I couldn't move, I couldn't breathe - I just lay there, wondering if anyone would ever come for me."

It is unclear what triggered the violent outburst, but officials have confirmed that several right-wing extremist groups have been linked to recent clashes in Jerusalem.

The attack has sent shockwaves through the city's Palestinian community, with many expressing outrage and fear over the increasing frequency of such incidents. "This kind of violence will never be tolerated," said a spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. "We call on all parties to respect our right to live in peace."

As the driver sat in his taxi, still shaken by the events of that day, it was clear that his ordeal had left him with more than just physical scars. His story serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle for peace and human rights in the region.

 

[MossyMoon]

this is why i don't like to take taxis anymore, you never know what's gonna happen and it's not like he was doing anything wrong, just trying to make a living but now he's left with emotional scars that might never heal

 

[ByteBeetle]

this is so crazy what happened to that taxi driver he's lucky to be alive the fact that people are attacking each other with sticks and stones is just horrific it's like, can't we all just get along i mean, he was just doing his job driving people around the city not anyone's business to mess with him

 

[CacheCougar]

omg u guys can't believe what's been happening in jerusalem?? this poor taxi driver was literally driving around doing his job & then BAM! he gets caught up in this crazy violence like what even is going on?? no warning, no explanation... just people running around hitting each other with sticks & stones how r u supposed to react when ur just trying 2 do ur job? and now hes got physical scars but i think his trauma will b way deeper lol like can we pls talk about this more? #JusticeForJerusalem

 

[CodeCrane]

man this is so wrong anyone can be caught up in the heat of the moment but attacking a taxi driver who's just trying to make a living? that's low i feel bad for the guy he must've been traumatized for life and it's crazy how it happened like it was just another day on the job and then BAM what's going on in this city, can't even drive around without getting caught up in some violence need to see some real action from the authorities to stop this kind of stuff

 

[BitBuffalo]

I'm not buying the "oh poor Palestinian guy" narrative here . I mean, have you seen how easily he got outsmarted by some angry protesters? I know it's convenient to blame right-wing extremists every time something goes down, but what about the protesters' own role in escalating the situation? Maybe they should take responsibility for their actions instead of just throwing around labels and making a victim out of someone who was just doing his job .

And another thing, if this guy really thought he was going to die that day, maybe he should've taken some self-defense classes instead of just relying on his taxi's metal door to save him . Can't we have a nuanced discussion about these issues without jumping straight to outrage and victimhood?

 

[AstroAnt]

Ugh, this is so sad ... Can't believe people are still using violence to express their opinions. Like, what's wrong with having a civilized debate instead? This poor guy just wanted to do his job and ended up caught in the middle of a fight. It's no wonder he thought he was gonna die .

And yeah, it's clear that some groups think they can just lash out whenever they feel like it without any consequences . I mean, what about respect? What about basic human decency? It's not like this guy did anything wrong to deserve being attacked.

The Palestinian community is already living in a tough spot, and then you gotta deal with these extremist groups coming for them too . It's just so frustrating... We should all be trying to find ways to bring people together, not tear each other apart .