(JNS) A pro-Palestinian activist was sentenced to 18 months in prison by a New York federal court on Friday for a series of attacks on Jews in 2021 and 2022.

Saadah Masoud was sentenced to 18 months in prison by Denise Cote, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She also ordered that he be subject to three years of supervised release.

Masoud, 29, of Staten Island, N.Y., pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit hate crimes for attacking Jews wearing recognisable Jewish and Israeli symbols in 2021 and 2022.

"(((THEY))) control the media, (((THEY))) control EVERYTHING" - Saadah Masoud

Masoud was arrested & charged w/a federal hate crime after brutally assaulting Adam Greenman in April.

This past weekend Masoud took to TikTok & went on an antisemitic bender blaming Jews (!?) https://t.co/1J5WfAFSv7 pic.twitter.com/8Omo6PO3qt

— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) August 1, 2022

“Saadah Masoud repeatedly attacked New Yorkers based on their religion and national origin. The prosecution of this case and the sentence imposed today make clear that hate-fuelled violence will not be tolerated in our community and that this office will be unrelenting in our efforts to hold accountable those who perpetrate senseless crimes of hate,” stated Damian Williams, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

StopAntisemitism.org applauded New York’s streets being safer for Jews but stated that the sentence was suboptimal.

It represents a “much-needed demonstration that the justice system takes antisemitic incidents like these seriously,” said Liora Rez, executive director of the watchdog group. “We hope that this sets a precedent for other would-be assailants; you will be held accountable for your antisemitic bigotry and violence.”

Matt Greenman

The injuries inflicted on Matt Greenman, one of Masoud's victims (Photo: Matt Greenman)

Masoud’s lawyers had requested six months—a sentence in line with a “slap on the wrist” sentence that a colleague of his received, also for attacking a Jew.

“We thank law enforcement for keeping this dangerous individual off the streets,” the American Jewish Committee tweeted of Masoud. “Targeting Jews for supporting Israel is a blatantly antisemitic act.”