Brooklyn teacher praised Sinwar: "Long live the murderer of 10/7"

A teacher at a public school in Brooklyn published a message in a group chat praising Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader and architect of the October 7 massacre. Following the publication, an investigation was opened against him by the city's education authorities. The organization StopAntisemitism called for his immediate dismissal.

A scandal in Brooklyn: A teacher at a public school in the city published a message in a group chat saying "Long live Yahya Sinwar," the Hamas leader and architect of the murderous massacre on October 7, 2023. Following the publication, an investigation was opened against him by the city's education authorities, and he is under investigation. Damian Naveh, 48, a former fashion photographer turned teacher at PS 77 in the upscale Park Slope neighborhood, praised Sinwar in November 2024. According to a legal complaint related to a local food co-op, Naveh, described as a leader of the boycott movement, also said "this group doesn't have the votes to block our campaign" – referring to pro-Israeli and Jewish members. On Naveh's social media, harsh anti-Israeli posts were found, including a sticker of a torn Israel, an image of a Star of David painted on the Statue of Liberty, and a post comparing Warsaw in 1944 to Palestine in 2024. Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas leader, was known for his cruelty even before taking the reins of the organization, and was responsible for the murder of many Palestinians suspected of being informants. He admitted to strangling one Gazan to death with his own hands. He is considered the chief planner of the October 7 attack, in which 1,139 people were murdered in Israel and 251 were kidnapped to the Gaza Strip. Sinwar was eliminated by our forces in Gaza in October 2024, after months of hiding in tunnels. Dov Hikind, a former Brooklyn assemblyman and founder of the organization "Americans Against Antisemitism," called on the Department of Education to fire Naveh. "Sinwar planned what happened on October 7 – the massacre, the barbarity, the rape, and the cruelty," said Hikind. "The idea that someone connected to education – who believes Sinwar is a hero – can teach in a classroom is unthinkable. How would we react if a teacher said Adolf Hitler was a great leader? This teacher should lose his job. He should be fired – period." The office of Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels called for an investigation. A Department of Education representative stated, "Antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations have no place in our education system. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for every student and member of our school community. This claim has been reported and referred for investigation, in accordance with chancellor's regulations."