The New York Times is facing backlash after publishing an op-ed written by the Hamas-backed mayor of Gaza City. The guest essay described the state of the Gaza Strip amid the Israel-Hamas conflict that broke out in early October. The news outlet published the guest essay by Yahya R. Sarraj, mayor of Gaza.
The essay laments the actions of the Israeli military, particularly after it invaded the Gaza Strip on Oct. 27. He wrote about the effects of the invasion, which was in retaliation to the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. In addition, the essay, released on Christmas Eve, listed examples of destruction in Gaza.
It also spoke about how Hamas terrorists killed and kidnapped Israeli, American, and other civilians on Oct. 7. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, more than 20,000 people died in Gaza since Israel began its counterattack.
In addition, the troops have reportedly destroyed roughly half of the buildings in the area. However, Sarraj faulted the Israeli military for something else: the loss of the Gazan culture. “The Israelis have also pulverized something else: Gaza City’s cultural riches and municipal institutions,” Sarraj wrote.
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“The unrelenting destruction of Gaza, its iconic symbols, its beautiful seafront,” he added. “Its libraries and archives and whatever economic prosperity it had has broken my heart.” In addition, Sarraj’s essay criticized Israel for the destruction of many of the city’s features.
These include its zoo, the main public library, the Children’s Happiness Center, and more. Sarraj also accused the Israeli military of “destroying life” in Gaza, lamenting the country’s “blockade of Gaza.” He says it unfairly affects the Palestinian population.
Consequently, the guest essay quickly attracted criticism online from human rights activists and media commentators. “Oh, nothing to see here,” International Legal Forum CEO Arsen Ostrovsky wrote in a post. “Just [The Times] publishing an op-ed by Hamas-appointed mayor of Gaza, Yahya Sarraj,” Ostrovsky added.
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“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.” Similarly, the publication sparked a backlash from conservatives criticizing the New York Times online. They condemned the news outlet for amplifying the voice of a highly-ranked Hamas member.
“Remember when the journalists lost their minds, and a chief editor had to resign?” Chaya Raichik, creator of the popular Libs of TikTok page, wrote on X. “Well, now the New York Times is running opinion pieces written by Hamas. NYT is showing their true colors!”
Also, Kiryas Joel School District Superintendent Joel Petlin blasted the news outlet. Petlin wrote that the same terrorist organization that raped, kidnapped, & murdered innocent Israelis appointed Sarraj as mayor.
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“I’m surprised the NY Times only gave him an OpEd column and didn’t offer him a full-time position,” he added. After they released Sarraj’s essay on Christmas Eve, several outlets criticized the NYTimes for publishing such a one-sided piece.
James Bennet, former NYTimes editor, also criticized the outlet in his piece. He accused the news organization of pushing a liberal bias. In addition, Bennet said the outlet censors differing opinions.
“The Times’s problem has metastasized from liberal to illiberal bias,” Bennet wrote. “From an inclination to favor one side of the national debate to an impulse to shut debate down altogether.”
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