Friday night, Governor Kathy Hochul issued an apology for comments she made at a New York City Jewish philanthropy event on October 7th, in which she intimated that Israel would have a right to demolish Gaza due to the Oct. 7th Hamas attack.
Ms. Hochul opened her Thursday speech at the event, which was for the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York, by describing Hamas as a terrorist organisation that “must be stopped.”
She went on to argue that Israel could not bear “that threat, that spectre over them.” her words. She went on to try to draw a parallel to America by bringing up her hometown of Buffalo and how the war was affecting it.
There would be no Canada the next day if Canada ever invaded Buffalo, my friends, Ms. Hochul said in a video of the speech that went viral. A normal response would be that. Your right to self-defense includes the right to take measures to prevent a recurrence. That is indeed Israel’s prerogative.
NY Gov Hochul last night on local opposition to Israel’s war in Gaza:
“If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I’m sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day.
“That’s a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again.” pic.twitter.com/UCHUBmU6ka
— Jacob N. Kornbluh (@jacobkornbluh) February 16, 2024
Ms. Hochul expressed apologies for her “inappropriate analogy” in a statement she gave to The New York Times on Friday night, following the speech’s virality on social media. For her “poor choice of words,” she expressed her apologies.
“While I have been clear in my support of Israel’s right to self-defense, I have also repeatedly said and continue to believe that Palestinian civilian casualties should be avoided and that more humanitarian aid must go to the people of Gaza,” she said.
Assemblyman Zohran Kwame Mamdani said in an X post that Governor Hochul was smiling as he justified genocide. How repulsive. Unlike her predecessor, Andrew M. Cuomo, Ms. Hochul had avoided controversy during her tenure in office, so the outcry to the governor’s remarks was uncharted territory for her.
The Pierre Hotel was the site of Ms. Hochul’s yearly speech to the U.J.A. lawyers division. A portion of the proceeds from the event will go towards the foundation’s “critical work in response to mounting needs on the ground in Israel and ongoing needs in New York and around the world,” as stated on the website thereof.
In a subsequent Thursday night X post, the organisation acknowledged Ms. Hochul’s comments and expressed gratitude for her “consistent support of the Jewish community and opposition to antisemitism and hatred in New York.”
“There’s no group of people more resilient than the Jewish people throughout history.”
Thank you, @GovKathyHochul, for joining us this evening at our Lawyers Division Annual Event and for always standing with the Jewish community and against antisemitism and hate in New York. pic.twitter.com/55a5xlk6Jx
— UJA-Federation of New York (@UJAfedNY) February 16, 2024
War in Gaza is heating up just as the governor delivers his speech. Since most Gazans have fled to Egypt for safety during the conflict, Israel has increased its military activities along the border between the two countries this week.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called the operation’s potential outcome a “unprecedented humanitarian disaster,” echoing the concerns of other world leaders.
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