Teen punched three times at scout camp in antisemitic attack, police say

A Jewish teenager was allegedly punched three times in the face at a major Victorian scout camp after being singled out for wearing a kippah and an Israeli flag over his shoulders, as community leaders warned of a worsening climate of hostility towards Jewish Australians.

Joshua Levy, 18, was buying a milkshake at Lardner Park near Warragul on Saturday when another scout reportedly approached him, demanded to know why he was displaying the Israeli flag and accused Israel of murdering children. Levy walked away, but said the same youth tapped him on the shoulder hours later at a crowded dance event and, when he turned around, punched him three times in the nose and left cheek. He was treated by camp medics for bruising.

“I’ve always heard about antisemitic attacks but never thought it would happen to me,” Levy told 7News Melbourne. He said he felt scared and sad that he could not freely express his culture and religion and was unsure whether it would be safe to return to Scouts.

More than 1,500 scouts and volunteers had gathered at the park for the state event run by Scouts Victoria.

Victoria Police confirmed the matter was reported the following day. A 17-year-old boy was interviewed and is expected to be summonsed to a children’s court. Police said incidents motivated by hatred can leave communities feeling threatened and vulnerable.

Scouts Victoria executive manager Jon McGregor said the youth responsible was removed from the camp and had since apologised in writing. “The safety and wellbeing of all young people in our care is our highest priority,” he said. “Scouts Victoria is an inclusive organisation that does not tolerate discrimination, harassment or violence.”

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dvir Abramovich condemned the attack in stark terms. “This is not 1930s Germany. This is Australia in 2026,” he said. “We are watching something dark and rotten in this country become worse every day.”

Abramovich warned the assault could have had far graver consequences. “This could have ended in brain trauma, in a hospital corridor, in a family standing over a coffin. Instead, it ended with an 18-year-old Jewish boy staring at a mirror and realising his identity made him a target.”

He drew a direct line to the December terror attack at Bondi. “Bondi was supposed to be a wake-up call. And now, months later, a Jewish teenager’s face becomes the landing pad for someone else’s hateful rage. This was not a burst of teenage temper. This was a message delivered in knuckles: hide who you are, Jew, or pay the price.”

The alleged assault comes amid heightened concern about antisemitism across Australia, with Jewish community groups reporting increased incidents of harassment and intimidation since the October 7 attacks in Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza. The federal government launched a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion in January, with a final report due by the end of 2026.

Police have appealed for witnesses or anyone with footage of the event to come forward.