Brooklyn Teacher Investigated for Praising Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar
A Brooklyn public school teacher is under investigation after praising Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in a group chat, sparking outrage and calls for his immediate dismissal.
Brooklyn Teacher Investigated Over Yahya Sinwar Praise
A public school teacher in Brooklyn is facing an official investigation after praising Yahya Sinwar, the late Hamas leader and mastermind of the October 7, 2023 massacres, in a group chat.
Damian Neave, a 48-year-old former fashion photographer teaching at PS 77 in the upscale Park Slope neighborhood, made the pro-Sinwar remarks in November 2024. According to legal filings related to a local food cooperative dispute, Neave—described as a leader of boycott efforts—also dismissed pro-Israel and Jewish members, stating that the group lacked the votes to block their campaign.
Social Media Posts and Controversy
Investigators uncovered severe anti-Israel content across Neave's social media accounts, including an image of an Israeli flag being torn apart, a depiction of a Star of David painted onto the Statue of Liberty, and a post comparing Warsaw in 1944 to Palestine in 2024. When a reporter attempted to contact him at his Brooklyn residence, Neave called the police.
The idea that someone connected to education—who believes Sinwar is a hero—can teach in a classroom is unfathomable. This teacher needs to lose his job—period.
Community Outcry and Official Response
Former Brooklyn Assemblyman and Americans Against Antisemitism founder Dov Hikind strongly condemned the remarks and called for Neave's immediate termination. The New York City Department of Education launched a formal inquiry, with officials emphasizing zero tolerance for antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations within the school system.
