New York Times criticized for op-ed written by Hamas-appointed mayor

[Ray Bogan]

The New York Times is being criticized for publishing an op-ed written by the Mayor of Gaza city who was appointed to the position by Hamas, an organization that has been on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations since 1997. 

Mayor Yahya Sarraj wrote that Israel had pulverized Gaza’s cultural riches. 

[Mayor Yahya Sarraj]

“I call on the world’s municipalities — everyone — to pressure world leaders to stop this mindless destruction,” Sarraj wrote. “Why can’t Palestinians be treated equally, like Israelis and all other peoples in the world? Why can’t we live in peace and have open borders and free trade?”

[Ray Bogan]

Sarraj said his son died when a strike hit his home. He questioned the Israeli military’s tactics. 

[Mayor Yahya Sarraj]

“Why did the Israeli tanks destroy so many trees, electricity poles, cars and water mains? Why would Israel hit a U.N. school? The obliteration of our way of life in Gaza is indescribable. I still feel I am in a nightmare because I can’t imagine how any sane person could engage in such a horrific campaign of destruction and death.”

[Ray Bogan]

The piece is controversial because, as mentioned earlier, Sarraj was appointed by Hamas, which he mentioned in passing. 

[Mayor Yahya Sarraj]

“One of my major goals after the Hamas administration appointed me mayor in 2019 was to improve the city’s seafront and foster the opening of small businesses along it to create jobs.”

[Ray Bogan]

Sarraj was appointed by Hamas, which according to the United States’ Director of National Intelligence has, “been the de facto governing body in the Gaza Strip since 2007, when it ousted the Palestinian Authority from power.”

This op-ed is being criticized by those on the right. 

Republican Presidential Candidate Nikki Haley posted on X:

[Nikki Haley]

“Remember when New York Times staff threw a tantrum over a Republican senator’s op-ed? We heard no complaints from NYT staff about publishing an op-ed by a Hamas-appointed mayor over Christmas. That tells you everything you need to know about the state of our media.”

[Ray Bogan]

The creator of the popular ‘Libs of TikTok’ account posted: “Well now the New York Times is running opinion pieces written by Hamas. Are their journalists outraged? NYT showing their true colors!”

[Ray Bogan]

Raichik was alsop referring to the fact that the former NYT Opinion Editor James Bennet had to resign due to intense backlash from the outlet’s staff and leadership, because he published an op-ed from Republican Senator Tom Cotton. The piece, titled Send in the Troops, called for the use of the military to stop violent protests in the summer of 2020. 

Bennet recently published a 16,000 word essay in the Economist which said the New York Times had lost its way and has gone from a place with a, “inclination to favour one side of the national debate to an impulse to shut debate down altogether.”