Barber Stabbed in Yonkers Shop After Heated Debate Over Gaza Conflict

A disturbing incident took place at a Yonkers barbershop, where a Jewish barber was attacked by a customer during a heated conversation about the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The violent confrontation occurred on August 29th, when Slava Shushakova, the shop owner, was giving a beard trim to a man he's seen around the neighborhood for years.

The customer, identified as 34-year-old Ahmed al Jabali, allegedly became enraged during a discussion about the Gaza war and turned violent. According to Shushakova, al Jabali began spewing antisemitic remarks, including, "I want to kill you, you f–king Jew," before grabbing a pair of scissors from the counter and attacking the barber.

Despite sustaining serious injuries to his hand and wrist, Shushakova managed to fight off the attack and avoid more severe harm. He was rushed to the hospital and required 30 stitches for his wounds. The shop has remained closed since the attack, and Shushakova will be unable to work for at least a month as he recovers.

Al Jabali, who was known to be aggressive and had been seen drinking on the day of the incident, fled the scene but was quickly arrested by the police. He has since been charged with two counts of second-degree attempted murder as a hate crime and is currently being held without bail.

Shushakova, who immigrated to the U.S. from Uzbekistan, believes al Jabali may have been radicalized by misinformation surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict. Al Jabali, originally from Yemen, has a lengthy criminal record, including a recent arrest for threatening his own mother. Despite his prior encounters with the barber, al Jabali had never been a paying customer and often exhibited troubling behavior.

Reflecting on the attack, Shushakova is thankful to be alive but believes al Jabali should be imprisoned for decades to prevent future violence. As he continues to heal, the barber expressed deep concern for the safety of his community and the dangers of radicalization.