NYC doctor aiding Oct. 7 victims hit with death threats over Israel support

New York City plastic surgeon Dr. Ira Savetsky told the New York Post last week that as a consequence of his advocacy and philanthropy for Israel, particularly in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 massacre, he and his practice have been flooded with violent threats.

Savetsky and his wife, Elizabeth (Lizzy) Savetsky, have a significant social media presence and large Instagram followings.

Savetsky has just under 59,000 followers on the platform, while his wife, a former Real Housewife star and current Israel and Jewish rights activist, has amassed 386,000 followers.

In addition to being outspoken on Israel-related issues, Savetsky has been performing pro-bono work treating victims of Hamas’s October 7 massacre over the last year.

In February, he told the New York Jewish Week that doing such work has “been very fulfilling and...helps give me purpose and meaning,” adding that as the IDF fights a war with Hamas terrorists in Gaza, those standing with Israel abroad often find themselves in “a different version of the same war.”

Recently, speaking to the New York Post, Savetsky said he was in regular contact with local law enforcement, the FBI, and the mayor’s office due to the increased threats he and his family were receiving.

Death threats

In May, Elizabeth Savetsky posted to her Instagram account a voicemail her family received in which the anonymous caller said, “We’re coming to see you soon, motherf***er. Keep f***ing around. Keep thinking you’re safe. You’re not.”

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A post shared by Elizabeth Savetsky (@lizzysavetsky)

Another message received, this one on Instagram, reportedly read, “F— YOU YOU DISGUSTING JEW BAG CRIMINAL...Hopefully, somebody will kill u...you are the vermin and scum of this planet.”

“I would say there was an initial wave within a few weeks after October 7, and then I had a huge uptick of threats and attacks in January,” Dr. Savetsky told the Post. “I’ve definitely increased the security of my office and even our home.”

He added that many callers managed to get his wife’s WhatsApp number and have been sending her photos of her parents’ Texas home.

The threatening messages have reportedly been sent to the relevant authorities.

Savetsky told the Post that he has filed at least five reports to the police since October 7, but no arrests have been made to date.

He said that although he has “great respect for law enforcement” and knows they have been taking the threats seriously and working to protect him and his family, “I wish there were more decisive action taken against those who have threatened us.”