Two brothers, Neria and Daniel Sharabi, hailed as heroes for their courageous actions during the Oct. 7 Nova festival massacre, faced an unexpected challenge during their recent visit to Times Square. The siblings, who saved numerous lives by taking control of an abandoned tank and confronting terrorists, found themselves in a confrontation with a New Yorker defacing posters related to Hamas hostages.

Confrontation in Times Square

While holding signs that emphasized the plight of victims taken by Hamas, the Sharabi brothers encountered a man scaling a traffic pole, attempting to remove posters of the hostages. The brothers, both aged in their twenties, confronted the man as he zealously scraped off the posters, leading to a heated exchange captured on video.

Unfounded Accusations

The man accused the brothers of heinous actions, including blowing up hospitals and causing harm to children. In response, Neria and Daniel, visibly upset, challenged these allegations, asking the accuser for the source of his misinformation. The man was subsequently handcuffed after being caught on video spitting in the direction of police officers.

Real-life Frustration

Expressing their frustration, Neria mentioned, “You see it in videos, but when it happens in reality, I get pissed off. People deny our experience, but you can’t deny reality. We’re proof it happened.” The brothers, who were in New York to raise awareness about the victims taken by Hamas, recounted their traumatic experience of witnessing their best friend being kidnapped on October 7.

Mistaken Identity and Prejudice

During an earlier visit to Times Square, the brothers, who are of Yemenite descent and have darker skin, encountered a passerby expressing support for Hamas. This passerby, mistaken in assuming the brothers were Gazans, changed their stance when the Sharabi brothers revealed their Stars of David necklaces. Neria criticized the misconception, stating, “People think **** only look white. They’re hypocrites.”

Reflections on Heroism and Faith

The Sharabi brothers attribute their heroism during the Hamas attack to divine intervention, stating they went “into army mode as civilians” to take control of the tank. Daniel, a former combat medic, likened their actions to the story of Hanukkah, emphasizing the theme of the small against the mighty. They believe their intervention, with God’s guidance, allowed dozens of people to take cover behind the tank during the attack.

Spreading Light Amid Darkness

Despite the challenges they faced in Times Square, the brothers maintain faith in the goodness of people. Daniel remarked, “I still have faith in good people. We’re human and we’re supposed to spread light, Jewish or not.”

In sharing their story and confronting misconceptions, the Sharabi brothers continue to advocate for the well-being of the Nova survivors and raise awareness about the impact of terrorism.

[Source: The Post (original article)]