A former official from the Obama-era National Security Council, Stuart Seldowitz, has been captured in a series of videos using derogatory and Islamophobic language to taunt a vendor at a food cart in New York City. The disturbing videos, recorded by the vendor on Manhattan's Upper East Side on different days, show Seldowitz mocking Islam, insulting the vendor's citizenship status, and making references to the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Seldowitz, who confirmed his presence in the videos in an email to CNN, can be heard accusing the vendor of supporting Hamas and even making disturbing remarks about Palestinian children. In response to the accusation, the vendor asserts that Seldowitz is the one responsible for killing children, not him. In one video, Seldowitz callously states that if 4,000 Palestinian children were killed, it was not enough.

The New York City Police Department is aware of the videos and is actively monitoring the situation, according to a statement provided to CNN. These videos come at a time when the United States is witnessing an alarming rise in reported incidents of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bias since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, as reported by the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Similarly, there has been a spike in antisemitic incidents reported nationwide, with the FBI Director Christopher Wray stating that the threat has reached "historic levels."

One of the videos shows Seldowitz threatening to publicly brand the vendor as a supporter of Hamas by putting up signs. In another video, Seldowitz mentions Egypt's General Intelligence Service and makes horrifying threats to the vendor's family. The former official can be seen asking if the vendor's father likes his fingernails and suggesting they would be taken out one by one. Seldowitz concludes the interaction by holding up his phone, saying, "Smile for me," and laughing.

When approached for comment, Seldowitz expressed his willingness to discuss the situation, stating that the videos do not show the vendor's initial remarks. He claimed that the vendor instigated the conversation by expressing support for Hamas, an assertion denied by the vendor.

Seldowitz, who served as the acting director for the National Security Council South Asia Directorate during the early 2000s and during former President Barack Obama's administration, has faced strong condemnation for his actions. The lobbying group Gotham Government Relations, which Seldowitz was previously affiliated with, has since discontinued all association with him, stating that the videos display "vile, racist, and beneath the dignity" actions.

The Street Vendor Project, an advocacy group representing vendors across New York City, revealed that Seldowitz had been tormenting the food cart operator since November 8. The vendor, identified as Mohamed, who communicated with limited English, allegedly attempted to avoid engaging in complicated discussions about war with customers.

Mohamed Attia, the managing director of the Street Vendor Project, expressed his outrage over the racist Islamophobic behavior captured in the videos. The advocacy group voiced their concerns about the vendors being hesitant to speak up, fearing the consequences of displacement and harassment. New York City Councilmember Julie Menin has been informed about the incidents and has reported them to the police.

The mobile recordings of Seldowitz's offensive behavior serve as a stark reminder of the prejudice and hate that continue to persist in society. As the investigation unfolds, it remains crucial to address and combat these incidents of bigotry to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals, regardless of their background and religion.