NYT Executive Editor Joseph Kahn’s Home Defaced with Anti-Gaza Graffiti: Call for Ceasefire in Israel-Hamas Conflict Amplifies

New York City police are investigating an incident where red paint and graffiti were used to deface the apartment building of The New York Times’ Executive Editor, Joseph Kahn, early Friday morning. The vandalism included writing on the building’s front steps that read, “Joe Kahn lies Gaza dies.”

The building was previously targeted last month with similar red paint and graffiti stating, “NYT lies Gaza dies,” referencing criticism against The New York Times for its coverage of the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

As of now, no arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing. The NYPD confirmed this to CNN.

The New York Times has stated they are cooperating with authorities following the incident. In response, New York Times spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said, “People are free to disagree with The New York Times’s reporting, but vandalism and targeting of individuals and their families cross a line, and we will work with authorities to address it.”

Activists have historically used red paint during protests against the war in Gaza, often vandalizing buildings associated with political figures, newspapers, and other establishments. This latest incident outside Kahn’s home continues this pattern of protest.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas has been a subject of controversy since 2023, particularly after Hamas launched a surprise attack that led to the death of over 1,200 people and the taking of 251 hostages. Of these, 48 remain in Gaza today, with only 20 believed to be alive according to the Israeli government. The death toll in Gaza has reached 63,025 people, with a further 159,490 injured since the war began, as per the latest update from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.