By Alaa Elassar, CNN
(CNN) New York City police are searching for the person who vandalized a mosque in Brooklyn with anti-Palestinian graffiti on one of the holiest days in the Muslim faith.
Muslims in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood arrived to Tayba Islamic Center early on Thursday to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of Ramadan, when they discovered “Death 2 Palestine” spray painted on the front.
The graffiti was immediately reported to police and is being investigated by the NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force, Detective Arlene Muniz told CNN. No other property damage was reported and the perpetrator has not yet been found, according to Detective Annette Shelton.
The mosque’s imam, Mohammad Younus:
said he was shocked by the graffiti and could not understand why anyone would target the small community.
“We have not harmed anyone, we have no issues with anyone, and we peacefully live side by side with the Jewish community,” Younus told CNN. “We have done nothing to anyone and there is no reason to target our mosque, especially on our holiday.”
The vandalism comes at a time of increased tension and violence between Israelis and Palestinians, fueled in-part by Israel’s planned eviction of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Jerusalem.Since Monday, Israeli airstrikes into Gaza have killed more than 120 Palestinians, including 31 children, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Militant rocket fire from Gaza into Israel has killed eight Israelis, officials there said. Protests and mob violence, including lynchings, have also been reported throughout Israel and the West Bank.The Tayba Islamic Center does not count many Palestinian-Americans among its congregation.