Rom Braslavski, a survivor of Hamas captivity, said he has been subjected to curses and threats after sharing a personal story about helping Arab municipal workers near his home, sparking a heated public debate online.

In a post published Thursday, Braslavski described an encounter that took place earlier in the day and said he has since faced backlash. “They’re attacking me with curses and threats just because I shared something from the heart,” he wrote.

According to Braslavski, the morning began with the sound of cleaning and gardening work outside his home. At around 9 a.m., he noticed older Arab municipal workers continuing their labor throughout the day and decided, on his own initiative, to approach them. “Something in my instinct was to feel compassion for an older person working so hard,” he wrote.

He said he went into a nearby store to buy a few items and chose to purchase cans of soda and cigarettes for the workers. He then approached them and spoke in Arabic. “They were in shock, they didn’t understand why I bought for them, and how I speak such good Arabic,” he recalled, noting that his wearing a kippah while offering help added to their surprise.

“The looks on their faces—that I’m wearing a kippah, not hating them, and on the contrary wanting to help—were total shock,” he added.

In his post, Braslavski raised broader questions about the state of society, writing: “Why has helping another person become something unusual and out of the ordinary? Why would an older Arab be shocked that a young Jewish man cares for him? Have we become a society with that much hatred between Arabs and Jews?”

He also reflected on his own past, including his experience being kidnapped, but said that should not erase basic humanity. “I was kidnapped by Arabs. Am I in love with them? No. But we must leave room for humanity within all this chaos that we live in,” he wrote.

Braslavski emphasized that he did not seek attention for his actions. “I didn’t tell them who I am, I didn’t take a picture with them. I gave them the can, wished them peace, and left.”

Despite that, he said that once the story became public, he was met with harsh reactions online, including insults and threats. “I did nothing wrong,” he wrote in a follow-up post, expressing frustration over the response.

He concluded with a message directed at both communities: “I wish for Jews to start being humane toward Jews first. And for Arabs—not to see Jews as their enemy. Have a good Thursday.”