A Brooklyn teacher 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 Hamas leader Yahya al-Sinwar in November 2024, according to a lawsuit tied to the Park Slope Food Coop.
“Long live Yahya Al-Sinwar,” Neva allegedly wrote in a Signal group chat populated by other anti-Israel members of the cooperative, the lawsuit states.
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 members of the co-op.
Jewish members of the grocery cooperative filed suit last week after its board voted to prohibit Israeli products, capping a bitter dispute that had lasted for years.
Neva began teaching at PS 77 in affluent Park Slope this year. A now-deleted social-media post described the move as the result of 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 figures including Karlie Kloss and Kate Upton.
In an interview with Business of Fashion, Neva said he advised new models on responsible and effective social-media practices. His previous employers also included Ford Modeling and Calvin Klein.
His social-media history included an image of an Israel sticker being shredded, a depiction of the Star of David painted over the Statue of Liberty and a post drawing a comparison between Warsaw in 1944 and Palestine in 2024.
When The Post sought comment from Neva at his Brooklyn residence Sunday, he called police on the reporter.
“Meet Damien Neva, a newly hired teacher at Brooklyn’s PSK77,” the 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 added.
Before becoming Hamas’ leader, Sinwar served as the group’s chief enforcer and was accused of killing Palestinians suspected of informing for Israel. He also admitted to strangling a Gazan man with his own keffiyeh.
As Hamas chief, Sinwar was widely believed to have played the central role in planning the Oct. 7 attack, which killed 1,139 people in Israel and led to 251 others being taken hostage in Gaza.
The Israel Defense Forces killed Sinwar in Gaza in October 2024, after he had spent months hiding in tunnels during the war.
Dov Hikind, a former Brooklyn assemblyman and founder of Americans Against Antisemitism, said Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Department of Education should 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.
