Mamdani NYC health department staffers launch ‘working group’ accusing Israel of genocide

Employees of the Department of Health under Mayor Zohran Mamdani in New York City have formed a “Global Oppression and Public Health Working Group” that has accused Israel of committing genocide. The group held its first meeting during work hours, both in-person at the department’s headquarters in Long Island City and remotely.

The meeting was said to have been organized in response to the ongoing conflict in Palestine, with a focus on educating health department staff about global oppression and its impact on health equity. However, the presentation did not mention the Hamas attack on Israel that triggered the recent conflict in Gaza.

Criticism has been raised against the working group for using New York City Department of Health resources to spread what some have called libel against the Jewish people. Yael Halaas, president of the American Jewish Medical Association, expressed outrage over the one-sided politicization of the agency, stating that it was causing division among employees and lowering morale.

One employee, who preferred to remain anonymous, highlighted the absence of any mention of antisemitism in discussions about oppression and criticized the focus on Palestinian suffering without acknowledging the role of Hamas in the conflict. The employee also claimed that their woke colleagues failed to address antisemitism because they did not view white Jews as victims.

Sarah Mckenney, a director of operations at the DOH, was involved in organizing the meeting and introducing the speakers. One of the presenters, Weeam Hammoudeh, a professor at Hunter College, accused Israel of treating Palestinians as second-class citizens and highlighted the disparities faced by Palestinian citizens of Israel.

The history of Israel, including forced displacements and dispossession of Palestinians, was discussed during the meeting, with emphasis on the situation in occupied territories. The Department of Health and the mayor’s office were reached out to for comment on the matter.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani has been known for his support of the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement against Israel and has previously accused the country of genocide in Gaza. The working group’s activities have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the politicization of the Department of Health in New York City.