NYC Teacher Under Investigation for Praising Hamas Leader

A Brooklyn public school teacher is under investigation by city education officials for allegedly praising Yahya al-Sinwar, the Hamas leader and architect of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. The remarks were reportedly made in November 2024 within a Signal group chat associated with the Park Slope Food Coop, according to a lawsuit.

Damien Neva, 48, is accused of posting, "Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar," in the chat. The lawsuit claims Neva, described as a leader in the boycott movement against Israeli goods at the co-op, also stated, "That lot does not have the votes to block our campaign," referring to pro-Israel and Jewish members.

Jewish members of the Park Slope Food Coop recently sued after the board voted to ban Israeli products. Neva began teaching at PS 77 in Park Slope this year, an "enforced career change," according to a now-deleted social media post. Prior to his teaching career, Neva worked as a photographer, videographer, and social media director for Next Management, representing models such as Karlie Kloss and Kate Upton. His past work also includes roles at Ford Modeling and Calvin Klein.

Neva's social media presence has reportedly included images such as a sticker of Israel being shredded, the Star of David superimposed over the Statue of Liberty, and a post comparing Warsaw in 1944 to Palestine in 2024.

When approached by a reporter at his Brooklyn home, Neva reportedly called the police. The group StopAntisemitism highlighted the allegations on social media, noting Neva's alleged praise for al-Sinwar and a crossed-out image of Israel, questioning the safety of Jewish children in his classroom.

Yahya al-Sinwar, before leading Hamas, served as the organization's chief enforcer and was responsible for the deaths of Palestinians suspected of being informants. He was believed to be the primary planner of the Oct. 7 attack, which resulted in 1,139 deaths in Israel and the taking of 251 hostages. Al-Sinwar was killed by the Israel Defense Forces in Gaza in October 2024.

Dov Hikind, founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, called for Neva to be fired, stating that it is "incomprehensible" for someone who views al-Sinwar as a hero to teach in schools.

A spokesperson for the New York City Department of Education stated, "Antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations have absolutely no place in our school system. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for every student and member of our school community." The department confirmed that the allegation has been referred for investigation in accordance with Chancellor's Regulations.