Israeli Activist Yoseph Haddad Detained After Firing Gun During Road Dispute in Jaffa
Israeli public diplomacy activist Yoseph Haddad was detained for questioning after his licensed firearm discharged during a traffic dispute in Jaffa. No injuries reported.
Yoseph Haddad, a prominent Israeli public diplomacy (hasbara) activist, was detained for questioning on Wednesday after allegedly discharging his licensed firearm during a confrontation between drivers in Jaffa.
According to police reports, the incident occurred following a heated verbal altercation on the road. Officers from the Jaffa police station responded swiftly to the scene and brought both Haddad and the other individual involved in the dispute in for questioning to determine the circumstances.
"The Bullet Was Discharged Accidentally"
Initial findings indicate that the conflict began over a traffic disagreement. Haddad claims the other driver threatened and spat at him, prompting him to draw his firearm in an attempt to de-escalate and distance the aggressor. According to Haddad, the bullet was discharged unintentionally, and he had no intention of causing harm.
No injuries were reported in the incident, and the bullet was later found on the road. Police confirmed that Haddad holds a legal firearm license, granted due to ongoing threats he faces in connection with his activism on behalf of Israel.
i24 reported Haddad’s Account:
The incident took place on Ben Atar Street, a narrow two-way road, where a verbal dispute erupted with a scooter driver attempting to overtake him.
Later, once the driver realized who he was dealing with, Haddad claims the man blocked his path with the scooter, spat on him, hurled curses, called him a “traitor,” and even threatened to kill him.
“When I felt threatened, I cocked my weapon,” said Haddad. “I leaned back, and a bullet was accidentally discharged, it didn’t hit anyone.”
Attorneys Efraim and Chovav Damari, representing Haddad, issued a statement.
They said, “This was not a ‘road argument’ as reported in the press, but a violent assault driven by racism and hatred against Yoseph Haddad.” According to the lawyers, the assailant, an Arab man, recognized Haddad, verbally attacked him with slurs, threatened his life, spat at him, and physically assaulted him before the weapon was accidentally discharged.