Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Bloomberg Uses Rocket Scare to Further Shame Hamas
By
Billy Parker
Published Jan 5, 2009
Modified Jan 5, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Billy Parker
Published Jan 5, 2009
Modified Jan 5, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Mayor Bloomberg's brush with a Hamas rocket yesterday made headlines in today's papers—some of which may have exaggerated just how much danger the mayor was in (the Post's headline reads that a "rocket rocks his 'boom!' town visit.") Bloomberg himself told the press, “Let’s not overstate the risks to me" and emphasized, "I feel safe here."
However, with the added attention to the mayor being rushed into a bomb shelter, he took the opportunity to make more comparisons between the situation in the Middle East and the threat of terrorism here in New York. He told CNN, "In New York City, we were attacked by Al-Qaeda twice...If we don't stand up against terrorists, we're going to be victims ourselves." Bloomberg also compared the Hamas attacks to "an emotionally disturbed person banging on your door."
Bloomberg didn't sound especially sympathetic to the civilian casualties in Gaza when asked about them. He said, "If Hamas would focus on building a country rather than destroying another one, those people wouldn't get injured, wouldn't get killed." But the mayor refused to be the one dictating answers for the situation, saying, "Look, I don't work for the State Department, or for the military, for America or for Israel. And it's up to them to find a peaceful solution."
Democratic political consultant Evan Stavisky tells PolitickerNY that Bloomberg's trip is "obviously smart politics—particularly when you bring the Congress' 'Maven of the Middle East' (local Rep. Gary Ackerman) and the police commissioner. It's one of those times when the right thing to do is also the right political thing to do."
Bloomberg's testy mood when dealing with reporters' questions about the situation apparently couldn't even be saved by the Sesame Street gang. As the mayor stopped into an Israeli hospital to drop off toys, the Times describes one received by "a Palestinian toddler who looked at him blankly as the mayor tucked Big Bird next to his small hands."
Tagged
al-qaeda
gaza
israel
israel visit
mayor bloomberg
mideast conflict
palestine
terrorism
Billy Parker
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Early Addition: There's a new hot duck, this time in Queens
Because a mandarin duck has been frolicking in Flushing, here are your early links: RHONY star racked up a lot of parking tickets, 57 best Italian restaurants in New Jersey, Judi Dench said the "Cats" movie was bad and more.
By
James Ramsay
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 9:40 a.m. ET
NYPD hate crime unit investigates smashed windows, ‘Pal Action’ graffiti at UES Capital One
The bank previously faced protests over a $90 million loan to an Israeli drone company.
By
Ryan Kost
News
NYPD hate crime unit investigates smashed windows, ‘Pal Action’ graffiti at UES Capital One
The bank previously faced protests over a $90 million loan to an Israeli drone company.
By
Ryan Kost
A reliably Republican part of NJ, until ICE came to town
By
Mike Hayes
NYC school integration debate exposes tensions between Black parents and Mamdani
By
Elizabeth Kim
Queens man charged with hate crime at Jewish-owned bagel shop displaying Israeli flags
By
Giulia Heyward
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .