The governor of New York state apologized for the defense of Israel analogy that compared Hamas to Canada.
Speaking to New Yorkers opposing Israel's Gaza offensive last Thursday, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul compared Hamas' Oct. 7 attack to a hypothetical attack by Canada on the United States.
“If Canada attacked Buffalo one day, I'm sorry my friends, the next day there would be no more Canada,” she said in a speech during a UJA Federations event in New York on Thursday that was shared on X.
New York Governor Hochul commented last night on local resistance to Israel's war in Gaza:
“If Canada ever attacked Buffalo, I'm sorry my friends, the next day there would be no Canada left.
“It’s a natural reaction. You have the right to defend yourself and ensure that something like this never happens again.” pic.twitter.com/UCHUBmU6ka
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) February 16, 2024
In her speech, she called for stopping Hamas at all costs, citing Israel's right to defend itself and ensure that such an attack “never happens again.”
She apologized in a statement sent to CNN on Saturday, acknowledging that she had chosen her words poorly and that her analogy was “inappropriate,” although she recognized in hindsight that her comments had been “hurtful” to members of her community could.
New York State Assembly member Zohran Mamdani complained on social media that she was “justifying genocide and laughing” and called her comments “disgusting.”
The Jewish Voice for Peace Buffalo chapter expressed their displeasure with X. “We, your Jewish voters in Buffalo, NY, are beyond outraged, @GovKathyHochul.”
Despite their apology, several Jewish organizations and politicians maintain their stance on the governor's comments, CNN reported Saturday.