NYU Student Who Ripped Down Israeli Hostage Posters Apologizes

By:  Hadassa Kalatizadeh

Following the savage attack on Israeli citizens by Hamas terror group, and while the war rages on in Israel, New York University students shamelessly tore down posters of Israeli hostages.

As reported by the NY Post, Yazmeen Deyhimi, a Junior at NYU who had previously worked for the Anti-Defamation League, ripped apart posters of Israeli hostages plastered outside the prestigious school’s Tisch Hall.  The pre-law student admitted to taking down the posters which have been plastered across the New York City to shine a light on those who have been kidnapped since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7.  Deyhimi apologized and said, “her love of protecting Jewish issues is still strong.”  She said she acted out of frustration that “both sides, Israeli and Palestinians, were not represented.”

“Her frustration was that innocent children, teens, adults and elderly were also being killed, who are also Palestinians who are NOT Hamas,” said a statement from Deyhimi’s spokesman.  “Many Palestinians have no association with Hamas. She was frustrated both sides, Israeli and Palestinians, were not represented on the posters.”  The reps statement added that, “her love of protecting Jewish issues is still strong, but, like others, she has many Israeli friends and many Palestinian friends. Like many she seeks peace for all.”

Per the Post, the incident was caught on camera, and the clips circulated on social media, resulting in swift backlash.  She and two other students- including a freshman who serves as a Muslim Youth Leadership Council member at “Advocates for Youth”, and an unidentified male in a dark hood — were seen ripping down dozens of posters.  She was quickly identified by their NYU peers shortly after the video went viral.  As a result, hundreds of students and social media users spoke out, calling for the three “cowards” to be punished by NYU.

“Today, we witnessed 2 NYU students violently tearing down posters of kidnapped babies, mothers, and grandmothers hanging outside of NYU Buildings,” the Students Supporting Israel NYU Chapter wrote on Oct 16, on X, formerly Twitter. “This was done in a laughing manner, exhibiting complete disregard for Jewish lives and Jewish safety,” the post added.  “We are currently trying to identify these students. – WE FEEL UNSAFE AND THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSETTLING!!! We ask NYU to offer a course of action that CONDEMNS terrorism, that there are SERIOUS consequences to anti-Semitic actions”, the group had shared.  The post and videos were also shared on Instagram, where they garnered some 11,000 likes in a day.

The aforementioned posters had the headline “Kidnapped” and each went on to detail the profile and photograph of one hostage, whose fate is still in jeopardy, asking in conclusion to “Please help bring them home alive.”  There are still more than 200 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas, and about 50 more kidnapping victims being held by other “resistance factions and in other places,” Hamas military officials said earlier this week.  Also, over 1,400 Israelis were killed during the Oct 7th surprise attack launched on the Jewish State by Hamas, making it the bloodiest day in Jewish history since the Holocaust.

Deyhimi, who describes herself in her LinkedIn profile as an advocate against Muslim bigotry, apologized publicly through a rep. “Like many she is still learning. Like many, she is also sorry for her actions born of frustration, but let’s not define a student’s entire life for one moment of frustration,” the statement reads. “She knows the pain she caused the Israeli and Jewish communities. She is forever sorry for her action of taking away the attention Israeli hostages on posters deserved then and now.”

NYU responded in a statement saying that it was looking into the matter.  “The University takes this matter seriously, and we are looking into it,” spokesman John Beckman told The Post.  After the students were identified the school did not provide update. It is unclear if Deyhimi or her accomplices faced any disciplinary action by the university.