Hochul apologizes for implying Israel justified destroying Gaza

Metro

By Rich Calder

Gov. Kathy Hochul apologized Friday night for remarks she made at a Jewish philanthropy event that went viral on social media, which implied Israel is justified to destroy Gaza following Hamas’ horrific Oct. 7 attack on the Jewish state.

Speaking at the United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York’s event Thursday in Manhattan, Hochul called out Hamas as a terrorist group that “must be stopped” and then tried to make an analogy by using Canada and her home city of Buffalo.

“If Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I’m sorry, my friends, there would be no Canada the next day,” Hochul declared.

“That is a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure that it never happens again. And that is Israel’s right.”

In a statement first provided to The New York Times, she said she regretted “using an inappropriate analogy that I now realize could be hurtful to members of our community,” and Hochul apologized for her “poor choice of words.”

“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,” Hochul said.

The war began when Iran-backed Hamas sent fighters into Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel’s air and ground offensive has since devastated much of Gaza, killing 28,775 people, also mostly civilians, according to Palestinian health authorities, and forcing nearly all of its more than 2 million inhabitants from their homes.