New York Governor Kathy Hochul has apologized for comments she made earlier this week in which she suggested Israel had the right to destroy Gaza in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas.
In a keynote speech Thursday at a Jewish charity event in New York City, the Democratic governor said Hamas “must be stopped.” Video posted on social media The show continued, drawing parallels between Canada and Hamas.
“If Canada attacked Buffalo one day, I’m sorry, but the next day there wouldn’t be Canada, right?” Hochul said, referring to his hometown at the annual event of the New York UJA Federation Lawyers Division. He said this. “But think about it, that’s a natural reaction. You have a right to protect yourself and make sure it doesn’t happen again, and that’s Israel’s right.”
In a statement shared with CNN late Saturday, Hochul said there was a “poor choice of words” and “inappropriate analogies that we now know have the potential to hurt members of our community.” I apologized for using .
“While I am clear that I support Israel’s right to self-defense, I have reiterated and continue to believe that Palestinian civilian casualties should be avoided and more humanitarian aid should be directed to the people of Gaza.” ” she said.
Hochul’s comments Thursday drew condemnation from several Democrats and left-wing groups.
The Buffalo Jewish Voice for Peace chapter called the comments “disgusting.”
“We, the Jewish voters of Buffalo, New York, are truly appalled, @GovKathyHochul,” the group said. Said in X’s post.
New York State Congressman Zoran Mamdani said on social media “They are laughing and justifying the massacre,” Hochul said. Horrible. “
New York City Council member Shahana Hanif said she did not accept Hochul’s apology.
“We need to see changed behavior. I will not forgive you at this time.” Hanif he wrote on social media on Saturday..
Meanwhile, New York’s UJA Federation on Thursday thanked the governor for “always standing by the Jewish community and opposing anti-Semitism and hatred in New York.”
“No group in history has been more resilient than the Jewish people,” the group said in a statement. Post on social media.
Hochul was sworn in as governor of New York in 2021, becoming the state’s first female governor. She succeeded her disgraced predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid multiple scandals. Hochul won her election until the end of her term in 2022.
CNN’s Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report