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Hasan Bakaret, father of the NY sisters who tore down posters of Israeli hostages, said the photographer 'provoked them'

Aya and Dana Bakaret were filmed removing posters depicting Israeli children who had been taken hostage by Hamas

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: Hasan Bakaret, the father of the two young New York sisters who were caught on camera expressing anti-Israel sentiments while removing posters of missing Israeli children, defended his daughters, describing them as "good girls."

On Tuesday, October 31, sisters Aya and Dana Bakaret were filmed removing posters depicting Israeli children who had been taken hostage by Hamas, as per New York Post

While they were being videotaped at the Upper West Side, the two women ranted using phrases like “F**k you, f**k Israel” and “F**k you b*tch … f**k you and Israel.”

Hasan Bakaret says the ongoing Israeli conflict is ‘not about Jewish and Muslim’

In an interview with the New York Post, Hasan Bakaret, the father of the girls, emphasized that his daughters are "good girls," and he has consistently instilled in them the ability to distinguish between right and wrong.

Hasan, who currently resides in New York, immigrated from Lebanon more than 35 years ago.

Drawing from his own upbringing and the moral values he was instilled with, the father of the two girls expressed his efforts to impart the same principles of distinguishing between right and wrong to his daughters.

He further added that he was always cautious while teaching them about the violent history between Israel and his native country.

He went on to clarify that discussions about religion were not part of those teaching moments, and he supported his daughters, asserting, “Coming to America now, they are good girls.”

He expressed, “I used to teach them but never mentioned the religion. It’s not about Jews and Muslims. It’s about land, power and who can control,” He continued, “And now my daughters are watching pictures of babies dying, buildings collapsing on people. It does something.”

Who photographed Aya and Dana Bakaret?

Aya and Dana Bakaret were initially observed by Marilyn Adler, who noticed them removing posters from a storefront window at Broadway and 79th Street. Adler, along with her two adult daughters, recorded the two sisters during their activity.

Adler had previously informed the New York Post, "We asked them not to remove the posters, and they responded by using offensive language towards my daughter."

Sharing his concerns about potential physical harm from the two young women, Adler expressed, "I was terrified and felt scared."

Aya and Dana's photos were featured on the front page of the New York Post, while the video was circulated by the nonprofit StopAntisemitism. Subsequently, the video gained significant attention on the internet.

In the video, Adler's daughter Melissa could be heard requesting Aya and Dana to stop tearing the posters, emphasizing that they depicted innocent civilians.

One of the sisters then infamously retorted, "F**k you, f**k Israel." Another added, "F**k you b*tch... f**k you and Israel."

Hasan Bakaret said the photographer lady ‘provoked them’

The father offered another perspective on the incident, stating that his daughters informed him that the woman who photographed them had actually "provoked" them.

He told the New York Post that although he did not condone his daughters using offensive language, he suggested that their actions were taken out of context.

He also mentioned that his daughters are not antisemitic, stating that Adler snatched a photo of a dead Palestinian baby from Aya's hand.

He said, "I know my daughter shouldn't use curse words, but at the same time, I wanted to understand." He continued, "They said, 'Dad, it's not true what they are saying, it started this way and ended this way, but didn't show why it happened.'"

Saying that he believed his daughters, he added that his daughters said Adler initiated the confrontation.

“What happened in Manhattan with my daughters, I believe them. The lady provoked them, stole from their hand a picture of the baby, and told her ‘This is going to keep happening to you as long as you support these people,’” shared Hasan.

He also provided a back story that helped in shaping his daughters’ minds.

He shared that his daughters were subjected to a traumatic experience when they were just six and two years old.

In 2006, during the Israeli-Lebanese conflict, when the family visited their hometown in Lebanon, they found themselves unable to leave Hasan's parents' house near the Israeli border because Israeli soldiers were firing at any vehicle or movement in the area.

He also mentioned that after waiting for 10 days, they saw Israeli soldiers bomb the house next door, where six women were inside. This traumatic incident left a lasting impact on their minds.

The father commented, "It's a very traumatic picture for them to remember at such a young age."