The New York Times has been accused of promoting ‘Jew hatred’ by publishing an op ed from the mayor of Gaza City, decrying the devastation at the hands of Israel’s government.
Yahya R. Sarraj was appointed mayor by Hamas in 2019.
On Christmas Eve, the paper published his op ed, entitled: ‘I Am Gaza City’s Mayor. Our Lives and Culture Are in Rubble.’
Sarraj wrote about witnessing the destruction of cultural centers, infrastructure, businesses, schools and hospitals in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack.
‘The Israeli invasion has caused the deaths of more than 20,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, and destroyed or damaged about half the buildings in the territory. The Israelis have also pulverized something else: Gaza City’s cultural riches and municipal institutions,’ he wrote.
‘The unrelenting destruction of Gaza — its iconic symbols, its beautiful seafront, its libraries and archives and whatever economic prosperity it had — has broken my heart.’
Yahya R. Sarraj was appointed mayor by Hamas in 2019. On Christmas Eve he published an op ed in The New York Times condemning the destruction of his city
A view of destroyed Rashad Shawa Cultural Center after Israel attacks in Gaza City on November 25. Sarraj wrote about watching the building be constructed, and his sadness at its destruction
Palestinians are pictured gathering around the rubble of destroyed buildings following an Israeli bombardment in Deir El-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, on Christmas Eve
Palestinian man Ibrahim Al-Haj Youssef, who lost four of his children and his wife in an Israeli air strike, stands amidst debris at the Maghazi camp on Christmas Day
He condemned the ‘obliteration of our way of life in Gaza’, and said he felt he was living in a nightmare thanks to the ‘horrific campaign of destruction and death.’
Sarraj noted the bombardment was ‘in response to the deadly attack by Hamas’, but he failed to condemn the terror attack or even reference the 129 hostages believed to remain in Gaza – not all of them alive.
Sarraj said his son Roshdi, a 31-year-old photojournalist, was killed on October 22, and said everyone has lost friends and relatives.
‘An unnamed Israeli defense official promised to turn Gaza into a city of tents and Israel has forcibly displaced its inhabitants. For once, Israel is keeping a promise its officials made to the Palestinians,’ he concluded.
‘I call on the world’s municipalities — everyone — to pressure world leaders to stop this mindless destruction.’
Sarraj’s words were immediately seized on.
‘Oh, nothing to see here. Just @nytimes publishing an op-ed by Hamas appointed mayor of Gaza, Yahya Sarraj,’ said Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of The International Legal Forum, a pro-Israel network of lawyers.
‘I wonder, would NYT also publish an op-ed from Al-Qaeda justifying 9-11?
‘Of course not, but there is no red line to this paper’s Jew hatred.’
Another said that Sarraj’s question of why Gazans can’t ‘have open borders and free trade’ was easily answered.
‘After the suicide bombings in Israel during the Second Intifada, and even after Oct 7, he still wants to know why Gaza can’t have open borders and free trade, like the rest of the world,’ said one.
Another called Sarraj’s question bizarre, saying: ‘It’s because your people raped, tortured and massacred your way across defenceless Israeli communities on 7 October, in barbaric scenes from hell.
‘Actions have consequences, you lowlife. And these are the consequences. And they are not finished yet.’
One woman, describing herself on X as a ‘proud Zionist’, took issue with the paper’s decision to give Sarraj a platform.
‘Are you kidding? Would you have posted a nazi mayor’s views?’ she asked. ‘This is so tone deaf it’s unreal.’
Another commented: ‘Mr Sarraj’s article is certainly describing the horrors and suffering of this war.
‘It lacks, however, to also ask the question, how could Hamas launch a savage attack on Israeli civilians. While Gaza is under the regime of a terror group, there is no way for peace.’
And another concluded: ‘While I appreciate the NYT publishing a ‘diversity of letters’, the opinion from a terrorist group appointed politician is stretching it too far.
‘I hope this horrific war ends today, but it won’t be because of a ‘woe is me’ letter from the terrorists’ side.’