Cuomo Calls for Gaza Aid and Says ‘Some People' Blame Israel for Crisis

New York Times

21 hours ago

Former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo appeared to criticize Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza on Tuesday, and then hours later distanced himself from his comments, arguing that Israel was not solely responsible.
Mr. Cuomo, who has made his fierce support for Israel a central theme in his campaign for mayor of New York City, said in an interview on Tuesday evening that Israel and others should move quickly to deliver humanitarian aid. Then he attacked his main rival, Zohran Mamdani, who he claimed was 'glorifying Hamas.'
'Everyone should do everything they can to get the humanitarian aid delivered,' Mr. Cuomo said, adding: 'It's heartbreaking as a father to imagine what children are going through.'
But Mr. Cuomo seemed to back off harsher comments he made several hours earlier. Mr. Cuomo had said in an interview with Bloomberg News: 'Do I support what the Israel government is doing vis-à-vis Gaza? No. Do I support Israel impeding humanitarian aid? No.'
Mr. Cuomo said that in the earlier interview he was expressing the views of some New Yorkers, but not his own: 'I was airing what some people feel. You have some people who feel that Israel is not acting appropriately. That's their opinion.'
In his later interview with The New York Times, he said that 'it is incumbent on every entity that is involved — Israel, Palestine, the United Nations, the Red Cross — to do everything to expedite the food and water.'
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