New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has apologized for remarks made earlier this week in which she suggested that Israel has the right to destroy Gaza in response to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.
In a keynote address Thursday at a Jewish philanthropy event in New York City, the Democratic governor said Hamas 鈥渕ust be stopped,鈥� shows, and went on to draw an analogy between Canada and Hamas.
鈥淚f Canada someday ever attacked Buffalo, I鈥檓 sorry my friends, there would be no Canada the next day, right, right?鈥� Hochul said at the UJA Federation of New York lawyers division annual event, referring to her hometown. 鈥淏ut think about that, that is a natural reaction. You have a right to defend yourself and to make sure it never happens again, and that is Israel鈥檚 right.鈥�
In a statement shared with CNN late Saturday, Hochul apologized for her 鈥減oor choice of words鈥� and for the use of an 鈥渋nappropriate analogy that I now realize could be hurtful to members of our community.鈥�
鈥淲hile I have been clear in my support of Israel鈥檚 right to self defence, 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,鈥� she said.
Hochul鈥檚 remarks Thursday drew condemnation from several Democrats and left-wing groups.
The Jewish Voice for Peace chapter in Buffalo referred to the comments as 鈥渄isgusting.鈥�
鈥淲e, your Jewish constituents in Buffalo N.Y., are beyond appalled, @GovKathyHochul,鈥� the group .
New York state Assembly member Zohran Mamdani that Hochul was 鈥渏ustifying genocide, while laughing. Disgusting.鈥�
New York City Council member Shahana Hanif said she would not accept Hochul鈥檚 apology.
鈥淚 need to see changed behavior. I will not be forgiving you at this time,鈥� Hanif .
The UJA Federation of New York, meanwhile, thanked the governor Thursday for 鈥渁lways standing with the Jewish community and against antisemitism and hate in New York.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 no group of people more resilient than the Jewish people throughout history,鈥� the organization said in a .
Hochul ascended to the New York governor鈥檚 office in 2021, becoming the state鈥檚 first female governor. She succeeded her disgraced predecessor, Andrew Cuomo, who resigned amid multiple scandals. Hochul won election to a full term in 2022.
CNN鈥檚 Kaanita Iyer contributed to this report
