The New York Times was accused of promoting “Jew-hatred” by publishing an op-ed by the mayor of Gaza City denouncing the Israeli government's devastation.
Yahya R. Sarraj was appointed mayor by Hamas in 2019.
On Christmas Eve, the newspaper published its editorial entitled: “I am the mayor of Gaza City. Our lives and our culture are in ruins.”
Sarraj wrote about the destruction of cultural centers, infrastructure, businesses, schools and hospitals following the October 7 Hamas attack.
“According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Israeli invasion has caused the deaths of more than 20,000 people and destroyed or damaged about half of the buildings in the territory.” “The Israelis have also pulverized something else: the cultural wealth and urban institutions of Gaza Gaza City,” he wrote.
“The relentless destruction of Gaza – its iconic symbols, its beautiful coastline, its libraries and archives, and its economic prosperity – 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 the destroyed Rashad Shawa Cultural Center after Israeli attacks in Gaza City on November 25. Sarraj wrote about watching the building being constructed and how sad he was at its destruction
In the picture, Palestinians gather around the rubble of destroyed buildings after an Israeli bombing raid in Deir El-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Christmas Eve
Palestinian Ibrahim Al-Haj Youssef, who lost four of his children and his wife in an Israeli airstrike, stands amid rubble in Maghazi camp on Christmas Day
He condemned the “erasure of our way of life in Gaza” and said he felt like he was living in a nightmare due to the “terrible campaign of destruction and death.”
Sarraj noted that the bombing was “a response to Hamas' deadly attack,” but he failed to condemn the terrorist attack or even mention the 129 hostages believed to remain in Gaza – not all of whom are alive.
Sarraj said his son Roshdi, a 31-year-old photojournalist, was killed on October 22 and everyone lost friends and relatives.
“An unnamed Israeli defense official promised to turn Gaza into a tent city, and Israel has forcibly evicted its residents.” “For once, Israel is keeping a promise its officials made to the Palestinians,” he concluded.
“I call on the world’s communities – everyone – to put pressure on world leaders to stop this senseless destruction.”
Sarraj's words were immediately taken up.
“Oh, nothing to see here.” @nytimes just published a comment from Hamas-appointed Gaza Mayor Yahya Sarraj,” said Arsen Ostrovsky, CEO of the International Legal Forum, a pro-Israel legal network.
“I wonder if NYT would also publish a commentary from al-Qaeda justifying 9/11?”
“Of course not, but this newspaper’s hatred of Jews knows no red line.”
Another said that Sarraj's question about why Gazans cannot “have open borders and free trade” was easy to answer.
“After the suicide bombings in Israel during the Second Intifada and even after October 7th, he still wants to know why Gaza cannot have open borders and free trade like the rest of the world,” one said.
Another called Sarraj's question bizarre, saying: “That's because your people raped, tortured and massacred you on October 7 in barbaric scenes from hell through defenseless Israeli communities.”
“Actions have consequences, you idiot. And these are the consequences. And they're not done yet.'
A woman who described herself as a “proud Zionist” on X objected to the newspaper’s decision to give Sarraj a platform.
'Are you kidding? Would you have posted the views of a Nazi mayor? She asked. “This is so tone-deaf it’s unreal.”
Another commented: “Mr Sarraj's article certainly describes the horrors and suffering of this war.”
“However, the question of how Hamas could launch a brutal attack on Israeli civilians is also missing.” “As long as Gaza is under the regime of a terrorist group, there is no path to peace.”
And another concluded: “While I appreciate that the NYT publishes a 'variety of letters,' the opinion of a politician appointed by a terrorist group goes too far.”
“I hope this terrible war ends today, but it won’t be because of a ‘woe is me!’ letter from the terrorists.”