New York City residents are grappling with a controversy surrounding Achmat Akkad, a community coordinator with the city’s Health Department, after a series of past social media posts surfaced alleging antisemitic remarks and inflammatory statements about Israel. The revelations have sparked outrage and calls for investigation, adding to existing scrutiny of the Health Department’s internal practices.
According to the Jewish watchdog group Canary Mission, Akkad allegedly posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, approximately a year ago, stating, “1 Israeli left in this world would be one too many!” The group shared screenshots of the deleted posts, bringing the matter to public attention. This incident involving anti-Israel social media posts comes at a sensitive time for the city.
Alleged Antisemitic Posts and Inflammatory Rhetoric
The controversy extends beyond the single post highlighted by Canary Mission. Screenshots reportedly captured from Akkad’s X account, and shared by the group, allegedly show a November 10, 2021, post stating, “Jews that don’t support apartheid are safe. Zionists aren’t!” Akkad’s X account has since been suspended, making independent verification of the posts impossible, but Canary Mission maintains archived copies.
Further posts allegedly made by Akkad, according to Canary Mission, included claims that “Israel exists by sacrificing the blood of Black and brown people as an offering to white supremacy.” Another post reportedly accused Zionists of being “behind the attacks, far right parties being elected across the world, attacks on free speech, the wars in MENE, the dehumanization of Muslims, and increase in police power…” The specific meaning of “MENE” in this context is unclear.
Health Department Under Scrutiny
The allegations against Akkad are surfacing as Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s Health Department is already facing criticism. Recent reports indicate that staffers allegedly used city resources to organize a “global oppression” working group session that reportedly accused Israel of genocide. This prior controversy adds another layer of complexity to the current situation.
Akkad has worked for the New York City Health Department since 2017, earning approximately $65,000 per year, according to reports. He was hired prior to Mayor Mamdani taking office. Prior to his role at the Health Department, Akkad joined city government in 2015 as a community associate with the Human Resources Administration/Department of Social Services under then-Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Akkad’s Response and Calls for Investigation
When contacted by the New York Post, Akkad confirmed he works for the Health Department and operated the X account but declined to provide further comment. He had previously identified himself on social media as the “US Ambassador to Harlem.”
Canary Mission released a statement saying, “If Here’s who gets elevated into city government, what does that say about the leadership elevating him? New Yorkers should be outraged.” The group is calling for a thorough investigation into Akkad’s views and his continued employment with the city.
As of February 16, 2026, neither Mayor Mamdani’s office nor the Health Department had issued a public response to the allegations. Requests for comment from Newsmax to both offices were not immediately returned.
The situation is developing, and further updates are expected as investigations proceed. The New York City Health Department has not yet announced any specific actions regarding Akkad’s employment. The next step will likely involve a review of Akkad’s personnel file and a potential internal investigation by the Health Department, followed by a response from the Mayor’s office.
Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts and engage in respectful discussion about this critical issue in the comments section below.
