Muslim woman blows out menorah candles during Hannukah

An incident involving a Muslim woman and a public Hanukkah menorah occurred at the Weizmann City Mall in Tel Aviv, Israel. Security footage captured the woman, who was wearing a hijab, intentionally blowing out multiple lit candles on the menorah.

She was accompanied by a man, reported to be her husband, who was seen clapping and celebrating her actions as she recorded the event on her cellphone.

Witnesses and subsequent media reports indicated that the woman initially blew out several candles but returned a short time later to ensure the shamash (the lead "helper" candle) and any remaining lights were fully extinguished.

She later posted the video to social media with a caption suggesting she believed she was unobserved because the mall's shops were closed. The footage quickly went viral, drawing sharp condemnation from public officials and social media users who described the act as a blatant antisemitic provocation.

Following the incident, Israel Police opened a formal investigation. Authorities are reportedly considering charges under Section 170 of the Penal Law, which prohibits the desecration of sacred objects with the intent to insult a religion. If convicted under this statute, the individuals involved could face a maximum penalty of up to three years in prison