In a shocking series of videos that recently surfaced, Stuart Seldowitz, a former national security adviser in the Obama administration, was captured verbally abusing and harassing a New York City food cart vendor with Islamophobic language.

The incidents unfolded on the Upper East Side and were brought to the public's attention after a video was posted on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter. The disturbing footage shows Seldowitz taunting the vendor with offensive remarks.

In one of the videos, filmed at night, Seldowitz is seen asking the vendor if he had raped his daughter "like Mohammed" allegedly did. The vendor, maintaining his composure, politely asked Seldowitz to leave.

Undeterred, Seldowitz responded by asserting his freedom as an American and denigrating Egypt as he questioned why he should leave. In another video, filmed during the daytime, Seldowitz referred to the vendor as a terrorist and accused him of praying to a criminal. He further accused the vendor of supporting the killing of innocent children.

The vendor refuted the baseless allegations, asserting that it is Seldowitz who supports such violence. The exchange escalated with Seldowitz claiming that even the deaths of Palestinian children were not sufficient. The situation only ended when a bystander intervened, prompting Seldowitz to depart.

As of now, NBC News has been unable to reach Seldowitz for comment despite multiple attempts. However, in an interview with NBC New York, he attempted to explain his actions by stating that the incidents began with innocent small talk. According to Seldowitz, the vendor's supposed support for Hamas triggered him due to his sensitivity towards the tensions involving the Israel-Hamas conflict.

These disturbing videos featuring Seldowitz come at a time when law enforcement officials across America are expressing concerns about the potential for Middle East-related tensions to spill over into targeted harassment against Jewish, Muslim, Arab, and South Asian Americans.

This concern is supported by recent data. The Anti-Defamation League reported a staggering 388% increase in antisemitic incidents in the United States following the recent terrorist attacks, compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the Council on American-Islamic Relations noted a spike in requests for help and reports of bias from Muslims across the country between October 7 and October 24, compared to any 16-day period last year.

The videos serve as a stark reminder of the importance of combating Islamophobia and promoting tolerance and understanding within communities. The incident involving a former national security adviser engaging in such offensive behavior calls for a deeper examination of the underlying issues and a united effort to promote respect and harmony among all individuals, regardless of their background or beliefs.