Israeli backpackers suffered hours of antisemitic abuse while trapped inside a hostel in Argentina.

The group of Israeli tourists were staying at hostel Onda Azul in the southern Patagonia region when they were woken by three men wielding broken bottles and large sticks on Monday.

The attackers screamed: “You s**t Jews, you are trying to take over Patagonia.”

The Guardian reported Yoav Pollac, the 38-year-old owner of the hostel, as saying: “They came in throwing stones, smashing windows. They chased after three cars in which some of our guests tried to escape and wrecked them.

“They injured me, my brother and my father, who is almost 70 years old.”

Around 45 minutes into the attack six policemen arrived on the scene but then fled as they were unable to control the situation. Three of them were hospitalised with head injuries.

The attack lasted for four hours. The hostel is popular with Israeli travellers.

It is believed the assault was part of an antisemitic campaign against Israeli tourists which has also included posters around the area calling for a boycott of “Israeli military tourism”.