A New York City plastic surgeon Treatment of victims of Hamas' 7 October attack Carnage Free said he and his business have been facing violent threats for nearly a year due to his outspoken philanthropy.
Dr. Ira Savetsky says he is now in regular contact with the New York police, the FBI and the mayor's office over the onslaught of hate — which sometimes takes the form of hundreds of harassing calls and messages to his medical practice each day.
“I would say there was an initial wave within a couple of weeks after Oct. 7, and then there was a huge surge in threats and attacks in January,” said Savetsky, 39. “I definitely increased security at my office and even our home.”
Helene Seidman
“They took over my wife’s WhatsApp and they were sending her pictures of her parents’ house in Texas and saying, ‘We’re coming for your family,’” Sevetsky recalled.
In one phone call to the Park Avenue practice, a deranged caller warned, “I will come to your office and beat you up badly, be ready at 9am on Monday.” Another caller said, “I hope you commit suicide, please kill yourself in front of your children.”
Both voicemails — and many others — were forwarded to the FBI.
“F— you you disgusting jew bag criminal,” Savetsky received one message on Instagram. “Hope someone kills you … you are the vermin and scum of this planet.”
Courtesy of Dr. Ira Savetsky
Sewtsky and his wife — former Real Housewives star Lizzie Sewtsky — have long been known for their outspoken support for the State of Israel — which they doubled down on after Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 terrorist attack.
For the past year, Ira Savetsky has been offering free reconstructive procedures for American victims of anti-Semitic violence — as well as Survivors of 7 October.
In June he operated on an IDF soldier named David, who had suffered facial injuries during an attack. I met him in IsraelWhere he was recovering through the services of the non-profit organization BelevAchad – which provides rehabilitation services to injured Israeli soldiers.
“They were ambushed by about 400 terrorists. And David was there fighting. Unfortunately, he lost several people from his unit, and he also got wounded while fighting and actually saving some people,” Sevetsky said.
Savetsky said he has filed at least five police reports since Oct. 7 — but no arrests have been made yet.
“I have great respect for law enforcement and believe they are working hard to protect us and take these threats very seriously,” he said. But he also said, “I would like to see more decisive action taken against those who threaten us.”
