CHICAGO (WLS) — The I-Team has been following IDF soldier Max Long since the first days following the Israel-Hamas war. He and his friend, Michael Kaminsky, were injured in a brazen attack in broad daylight back in November.

Video showed they were blindsided on DePaul’s campus in what Chicago police are investigating as a hate crime.

The I-Team has learned police now have a person of interest in custody for that attack.

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Long and Kaminsky told the I-Team this is what they have been waiting months for.

“I really felt exposed, isolated and attacked physically and psychologically,” Long said.

A semblance of accountability in the attack that left Long with a concussion and lingering neurological issues, and Kaminsky needing surgery on his arm.

“I think there is a little sigh of relief knowing that one of the two violent perpetrators who went out of their way to attack two Jewish students is off the streets for the time being,” Kaminsky said.

Long and Kaminsky say they were advocating for peaceful dialogue about the war in Gaza when they were approached by two masked men and beaten. The men ran off and the two students were left to fend for themselves. Police are investigating this as a hate crime and now have a person of interest in custody.

“We’re relieved to hear that someone has been taken into custody. It’s been over five months and I know that Max and Michael have been looking over their shoulders every day in fear for their safety,” said Jaclyn Clark, an attorney with The Lawfare Project.

Clark and Gerard Filliti are representing the pair in its lawsuit against DePaul University following the attack.

“We look forward to seeing how these are actually charged. We’ve seen too many cases, unfortunately, where there’s under charging, where hate crimes are not prosecuted as hate crimes. So, we’re really looking at the state’s attorney to do the right thing and charge these for what they are,” Filliti said.

However, Long and Kamisnky were attacked by two people. The second alleged attacker is still at large.

“The institutions that we’re supposed to be getting an education from, we need to know that’s a safe space to have civil discourse and really engage and talk about subjects that might be hard. But if you can’t talk about them here, then how will anything ever change,” Long told the I-Team.

Long and Kaminsky have sued DePaul University alleging it is still an extremely dangerous campus for Jewish and Israeli students. DePaul says it does not comment on pending litigation and that they are continuing to work with the Chicago Police Department to hold the attackers accountable.

The I-Team reached out to DePaul regarding the arrest, but they have not responded.