NYC Health Department Staffer Wished Israelis Were 'Wiped Off Earth' in Resurfaced Posts

Achmat Akkad, a community coordinator with the city's Health Department, allegedly made vile anti-Semitic comments on social media.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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A veteran staffer of the New York City Health Department, Achmat Akkad, is under fire for allegedly posting anti-Semitic comments on social media, including wishing that all Israelis were 'wiped off the Earth.' Screenshots of the deleted posts were shared by the Jewish watchdog group Canary Mission, sparking outrage and calls for investigations into the Health Department.

Why it matters

The revelations about Akkad's social media posts come amid ongoing controversy surrounding the Health Department's 'global oppression' working group, which was accused of accusing Israel of genocide. This latest incident raises concerns about the city government's vetting process and the presence of hateful views among its employees.

The details

According to the reports, Akkad, who has worked for the Health Department since 2017, allegedly wrote in a deleted X post from about a year ago that '1 Israeli left in this world would be one too many!' He also reportedly said 'Jews that don't support apartheid are safe. Zionists aren't!' and made other inflammatory statements about Israel and Zionists.

  • Akkad's alleged posts were made around one year ago, in November 2021.
  • Akkad has worked for the New York City Health Department since 2017.

The players

Achmat Akkad

A community coordinator with the New York City Health Department since 2017, who is accused of making anti-Semitic comments on social media.

Zohran Mamdani

The current mayor of New York City, whose Health Department has faced criticism over a 'global oppression' working group that allegedly accused Israel of genocide.

Canary Mission

A Jewish watchdog group that uncovered and shared screenshots of Akkad's alleged anti-Semitic social media posts.

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What they’re saying

“1 Israeli left in this world would be one too many!”

— Achmat Akkad, Community Coordinator, NYC Health Department

“Jews that don't support apartheid are safe. Zionists aren't!”

— Achmat Akkad, Community Coordinator, NYC Health Department

What’s next

The New York City Health Department and Mayor Mamdani have not yet commented on the revelations about Akkad's alleged social media posts. There have been calls for city and federal investigations into the Health Department's operations and hiring practices.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for rigorous vetting of government employees, especially in sensitive positions, to ensure that hateful and extremist views are not present within the city's workforce. It also raises concerns about the broader culture and leadership within the Health Department.