Council Member Vickie Paladino, alongside fellow members of the Common Sense Caucus, Robert Holden and Joann Ariola.
Photo courtesy of NYC Council
Several elected officials came to the defense of eastern Queens Council Member Vickie Paladino after a Brooklyn council member told her to repeat her pro-Israel sentiments “face to face,” instead of on social media.
The squabble began after Council Member Shahana Hanif, who represents the Brooklyn neighborhoods of Park Slope, Carroll Gardens and Borough Park, posted a photo of a Brooklyn bodega on social media where the owner had put up signage calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Would love for you to say this to me face to face, Vickie!
— Shahana Hanif 🦾 (@ShahanaFromBK) December 17, 2023
Hanif, who was pictured with the deli owner, included a message with the photo that read that “the community’s got his back.”
The bodega, located on Lafayette Avenue in Fort Greene, also had some strong anti-Israel signage on display that was included in the photo.
“To our world leaders, you created a killing machine that you can’t control. Where is your humanity? Go F**k Yourselves. #CeasefireNow,” the signage reads. Hanif encouraged locals to support the establishment with a visit.
Paladino replied to Hanif’s post on X, formerly known as Twitter, with her thoughts on the matter. It is not the first time Paladino has expressed support for Israel following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, where Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis and took 240 hostages.
“We can have a ceasefire the minute Hamas surrenders. It’s pretty simple actually,” Paladino wrote on X on Saturday evening.
Paladino’s post got a quick rebuke.
“Would love for you to say this to me face to face, Vickie!,” Hanif replied an hour later.
Not long after, Republican Brooklyn and Queens council members, who are all in the Common-Sense caucus alongside Paladino, took to the platform to denounce Hanif’s reply.
“It’s very…
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