Violent Assault by a Group of “Israelis” on the Family of Cartoon Cafe

Some details cannot be disclosed at this time to avoid compromising an ongoing criminal investigation. For the same reason, the footage from a concealed CCTV camera was not released immediately, which led to speculation and even defamatory claims. Additional criminal proceedings are now underway regarding those statements.

In light of these defamatory claims, we are issuing this statement to clarify the facts, put an end to victim-blaming, and seek justice for this brutal assault.

Incident Summary

In the early morning of Monday, May 11, a group of “Israelis” committed a hate crime against the family running Cartoon Cafe on Siargao Island. This attack most likely stemmed from an earlier incident one week prior, in which an “Israeli” couple trespassed on the owner’s property and committed theft by stealing a flag that had been hung as a deterrent on the building.

Following that first encounter, the owner — along with private investigators — interviewed “Israeli” tourists that rode similar rental scooters after receiving tips from the public regarding the whereabouts of the thief. Several images of the suspected criminals had been posted on social media. This led to minor confrontations and, eventually, to the serious assault described below.

The Attack

On the morning of the assault, a group of Hebrew-speaking individuals, disguised with intent to conceal their identities, disabled and stole one of the CCTV cameras mounted outside the building. They then began throwing rocks at the cafe window, while getaway vehicle(s) waited further down the road.

Responding to the noise, the male owner came outside around 4:50 a.m. to inspect the building and the adjacent hotel, unaware that a group of dangerous criminals was attempting to lure him out. As he walked along the road, two of the attackers ambushed him in the dark, violently striking him with fists and weapons.

Hearing the commotion, his wife ran outside to help him. At that point, the attackers cowardly and violently assaulted her — a Filipina Lumad — repeatedly striking her in the face with fists and a wooden club. The brutal attack caused severe facial injuries and extreme swelling, requiring X-rays and immediate medical intervention.

The entire incident was recorded by a second, hidden camera inside the building. As the owners tried to fight back to protect their five-year-old child — who had been awakened by the noise—they crashed through the glass door during the struggle. The assault is clearly visible in the footage.

Unaware that they were being recorded, the “Israelis” continued to terrorize the family inside their own home, endangering their young child. The assault lasted over two minutes, during which the owners were beaten.

Escape and Evidence

The attackers fled on foot, as captured by CCTV at a nearby parking lot where the getaway vehicle(s) had been waiting. One of the vehicles was seen on multiple CCTV cameras traveling at very high speed toward General Luna center before turning in another direction. Later, two anonymous witnesses came forward with important information, confirming they heard the assailants speaking Hebrew.

Addressing Defamatory Claims

Regarding false accusations labeling the male owner a “Nazi” and other baseless claims: He is a German citizen with a strong personal interest in World War II military history and technology — including that of Germany, Japan, and the United States. This interest or hobby in no way justifies such slanderous name-calling or unfounded accusations, which he firmly rejects.

Wearing a particular t-shirt that shows family unit, a beard, or using lightning bolts in the business logo that was strongly inspired by the famous Kiss logo does not make someone a “Nazi.”

What is far more telling, however, is the concerted effort by certain Zionists and influencers to invest significant time and money in defaming the victims of this brutal assault in the Philippines without even mentioning it and the reason why the Ambassador had to visit in the first place. This assault mirrors the same pattern we have repeatedly seen in the West Bank against Christians and Muslims. Such aggressive smear campaigns strongly suggest an attempt to deflect attention from their own involvement in the crime and to shift public scrutiny away from their guilt.

Furthermore, while the owner of the cafe is politically completely neutral, the push to permanently establish institutions such as a Chabad House on the island raises serious concerns amongst the locals, as these are places where actual religious and political  far-right extremist views are reportedly taught and celebrated.

We live in a democracy that upholds freedom of expression. Labeling someone a Nazi or anti-semite solely for speaking out against crimes committed in Gaza, Lebanon, and elsewhere is not only intellectually dishonest—it amounts to victim-shaming and constitutes a harmful attack on legitimate discourse. The owner is a loving family man speaking out against what he views as an active genocide and the killing of innocent children.

The fact of the matter is that the owners made a conscious effort for a long time not to judge all Israelis based on the actions of certain war criminals or disruptive tourists. They continued to welcome them into their business. However, repeated disrespect toward the employees and owners, along with ongoing stress and disruption, eventually led them to hang the Palestinian flag as a clear signal that such customers were no longer welcome.  

A second major concern was the growing unease about having potential war criminals in their home and near their young child. As the recent assault has tragically confirmed, that concern was well-founded. 

Final Statement from the Victims

The victims wish to make clear that they are not seeking additional publicity as it was never about them but rather about issues on the island. They want to highlight ongoing issues that have been reported — and gone viral for months — since the increased presence of “Israelis” on the island, alongside growing calls from peaceful residents for government assistance. This assault represents a new and unacceptable level of aggression against the people of this island. Nothing justifies such vile behavior.

Furthermore, any additional defamatory rumors intended to damage the victims’ reputation will be reported to the authorities, as has already been done with previous incidents.

Finally, the owners want to thank the incredible support from the countless amazing people who came in person and still are visiting daily to show support, those who supported from afar and those who gave donations to cover parts of the medical bills and to fix the damages. A warm thank you also for the witnesses that came forward and helped to gave the investigation the push that was needed.

With this, we put our trust in the law enforcement to bring the perpetrators to justice and also thank them for their hard work day and night.