In a shocking incident that highlights the rise of hate crimes, two women have been charged in New York City for assaulting a Jewish woman who confronted them for tearing down posters of kidnapped Israelis. Mehwish Omer, 26, and Stephanie Gonzalez, 25, allegedly attacked the 41-year-old victim in the Upper West Side on November 9.

According to the NYPD, the Jewish woman approached Omer and Gonzalez as they were removing posters of Israeli hostages from a light pole. The victim, recording the incident, engaged in an argument with the two women before being violently attacked. Omer and Gonzalez reportedly ripped off the victim's Star of David necklace and knocked her cellphone out of her hand before fleeing the scene.

The victim sustained minor injuries to her face and neck, and her phone was damaged in the assault. Following an investigation, Omer turned herself in on Monday, while Gonzalez was arraigned last week. Both women are currently detained in Lower Manhattan's 7th Precinct.

The incident gained attention after the NYPD offered a $3,500 cash reward for information leading to the identification of the attackers, who remained unidentified for several days. The arrests of Omer and Gonzalez come in the wake of two other individuals, Charlotte Wimer and Gray Segal, also being charged for tearing down posters of Israeli hostages. The posters, which featured photographs of the missing hostages and the Israeli flag, were part of an effort to raise awareness about the situation in Gaza.

The rise in similar incidents in New York City has raised concerns about the security and well-being of the Jewish community. Earlier, two sisters, Aya and Dana, were caught on camera tearing down posters of Israeli child hostages while shouting anti-Israel remarks. In another incident, a Brooklyn magician named Noah Schaffer was seen tearing down posters and was subsequently fired by his Jewish father.

The hate crimes charges against Omer and Gonzalez reflect the seriousness with which law enforcement is addressing such acts of violence and discrimination. Both women are charged with assault and criminal mischief as hate crimes, while Gonzalez faces an additional charge of attempted robbery.

The trial proceedings will shed more light on the motivations behind this disturbing incident and send a strong message that hate and bigotry have no place in our society. The Jewish community, along with advocates for peace and tolerance, hope that justice will be served and that incidents like these will serve as a catalyst for change and unity in the fight against hatred.