A Brooklyn public-school teacher allegedly wrote “Long live Yahya al-Sinwar” in a group chat, according to a newly filed court document.
The post has prompted an investigation by New York City education officials.
Damien Neva, 48, a former fashion photographer who recently became a public-school teacher, allegedly praised the former Hamas leader in November 2024. The claim appears in a lawsuit tied to the long-running dispute at the Park Slope Food Coop.
“Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar,” Neva allegedly wrote in a Signal chat involving other anti-Israel members of the cooperative, according to the lawsuit.
The filing also describes Neva as a leader of the boycott campaign. In the same discussion, he allegedly wrote, “That lot does not have the votes to block our campaign,” referring to pro-Israel and Jewish cooperative members.
Jewish members of the grocery cooperative filed suit last week after its board voted to prohibit Israeli products, escalating a bitter dispute that had continued for years.
Neva began teaching at PS 77 in affluent Park Slope this year. In a since-deleted social-media post, he attributed the move to an “enforced career change.”
Before entering education, Neva worked as a photographer, videographer and social-media director at Next Management, an agency that has represented high-profile models including Karlie Kloss and Kate Upton.
In an interview with Business of Fashion, Neva said he counseled new models on responsible social-media practices. His résumé also includes work with Ford Modeling and Calvin Klein.
His social-media accounts also featured images of a sticker depicting Israel being shredded, the Star of David painted over the Statue of Liberty and a comparison between Warsaw in 1944 and Palestine in 2024.
When The Post sought comment from Neva outside his Brooklyn home Sunday, he contacted police about the reporter.
“Meet Damien Neva, a newly hired teacher at Brooklyn’s PSK77,” the advocacy group StopAntisemitism wrote.
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“Neva reportedly posted ‘Long live Yahya al-Sinwar,’ praising the former Hamas leader and architect of the October 7 massacre. His social media also features a crossed-out image of Israel. Roughly 157,000 Jewish children live in Brooklyn. Imagine being one of them in Neva’s classroom,” the Jewish civil-rights organization said.
Before becoming Hamas’ top leader, Sinwar served as the group’s chief enforcer and was accused of killing Palestinians suspected of spying for Israel. He also acknowledged strangling a Gazan man with his keffiyeh.
As Hamas’ leader, Sinwar was widely believed to have been a key architect of the Oct. 7 attack, in which 1,139 people were killed in Israel and 251 others were taken hostage and brought to Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces killed Sinwar in Gaza in October 2024, after he spent months evading Israeli forces in the territory’s tunnel network.
Dov Hikind, a former Brooklyn assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, called on Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Department of Education to dismiss Neva.
“Sinwar designed what happened on Oct. 7 — the massacre, the barbarism, the rapes and cruelty,” Hikind said.
“The idea that anyone connected to education — who believes Sinwar is a hero — could be teaching in the classroom is incomprehensible. How would we react if a teacher said Adolf Hitler was a great leader?”
“This teacher needs to lose his job. He needs to be fired — period.”
Schools Chancellor Kamar Samuels’ office called for an investigation.
“Antisemitism and support for terrorist organizations have absolutely no place in our school system. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and welcoming environment for every student and member of our school community,” a DOE rep said.
“This allegation has been reported and referred for investigation, in accordance with Chancellor’s Regulations.”
Mayor Mamdani’s office deferred comment to the schools chancellor’s office.