The Mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani, never misses an opportunity to bring up Palestine while excoriating Israel. His latest was his comparison of the war in Gaza to the past war between Ireland and Great Britain while hosting former Irish President, Mary Robinson, as his guest of honor at Gracie Mansion on St. Patrick’s Day 2026.

Really Zohran – do you have to turn everything into Palestinian rights? You’re a two-word repetitive refrain. St. Patrick’s Day honors the death of St. Patrick, the Catholic saint (c. 385–461 CE), who is the patron saint of Ireland, and who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. How do you manage to turn this into Palestinian rights? Nothing like exploiting a religious holiday to score political points.

A Quick Bit of History

In a land for peace deal in 2005, Israel disengaged from the Gaza strip. Eight thousand Israelis vacated their homes, their lands, and their businesses – bodies were removed from cemeteries – not a trace of Israelis/Jews remained in Gaza. In 2006, Hamas, the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, gained control in the Palestinian legislative elections. Subsequently, Hamas seized full control of the territory by force in 2007. There has not been an election since.

Billions of international dollars were donated to help rebuild Gaza. Instead of reconstruction, these billions were spent on munitions, bombs, and the building of a terror tunnel structure rivaling the New York City subway system. It is approximately 400 miles long, 20 feet to 200 feet deep below Gaza – beneath hospitals, schools, libraries, residential housing, mosques, etc. Many high-level Hamas leaders decamped to Qatar to live in luxury on these dollars while ordinary Gazans were left to suffer hunger, lack of infrastructure, lack of medical facilities – and to become human shields.

The long time Hamas goal, along with Hezbollah, Houthis, and other radical Islamist groups – many are proxies of Iran – is to destroy Israel and kill Jews. Peace is not the goal. Palestinians have been offered a state five times since 1937. Their only interest is from the river to the sea.

Comparing Ireland and Gaza

The war between Ireland and Great Britain is not equal to the Palestinian struggle in any way. For one thing, Ireland has had free and fair elections for over one hundred years.

I won’t belabor Irish/English history. England invaded Ireland in 1169 CE as an expansionist project. Israel did not invade Gaza as an expansionist project. Israel took control of Gaza........

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