Brooklyn Teacher Under Investigation for Praising Hamas Leader

New York City's Department of Education has launched an investigation into Damian Naba, a public school teacher in Brooklyn, following reports that he praised Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. The allegations surfaced in legal documents, as reported by the New York Post. According to a lawsuit filed by Jewish members of the food cooperative 'Park Slope', Naba, a former fashion photographer turned educator, wrote "Long live Yahya Sinwar" in November 2024 on a Signal group for activists boycotting Israel. The lawsuit also claims Naba, described as a leader of the boycott campaign that led to a ban on Israeli products at the co-op, told Jewish and pro-Israel members of the group, "That group doesn't have the guts to stop our campaign." Naba's alleged statements have caused significant outrage within the Jewish community and civil rights organizations, particularly given Brooklyn's large Jewish population. His social media history reportedly includes anti-Israel content, such as a Star of David superimposed on the Statue of Liberty and a sticker depicting a map of Israel being run over. When the New York Post attempted to contact him, Naba called the police. Dov Hikind, a former New York State Assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, called for Naba's immediate dismissal, stating, "Sinwar planned what happened on October 7th, the massacre, the barbarity, the rape, the cruelty. The idea that someone connected to education, who believes Sinwar is a hero, could teach in a classroom is unthinkable. This teacher needs to lose his job. He needs to be fired, period." A spokesperson for the city's Department of Education stated that the superintendent of schools ordered an investigation and emphasized that "Antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations have no place in our educational system. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for every student and member of our school community." The Mayor's office deferred comment to the Department of Education.