Mamdani targets drone firm over ties to ‘Israel’ in Brooklyn Navy Yard move
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Mayor Zohran Mamdani moves to push a drone manufacturer out of a city-owned site over its role supplying ‘Israel’.
- City Hall denies political motive, but critics say the decision reflects a deliberate policy shift.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has moved to force a drone manufacturer out of the city-owned Brooklyn Navy Yard, with critics accusing City Hall of deliberately targeting the company over its links to ‘Israel’ and its role in monitoring the Gaza Strip border.
Read more: ‘Israeli’ journalist arrested over Iran ties as secret probe targets senior officials
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation declined to renew the lease of Easy Aerial just six weeks after Mamdani took office, a decision that has been framed by allies of the mayor as an ethical stand and by opponents as politically driven retaliation.
City Hall pressure
Easy Aerial supplies drones used by ‘Israel’ to monitor the Gaza Strip, where ongoing aggression has killed thousands of Palestinian martyrs. The company has been a frequent target of pro-Palestine protests, with demonstrators demanding the removal of tenants connected to ‘Israel’s’ military operations.
Read more: Exposed: ‘Israeli’ spyware firm accidentally shows hacking dashboard by mistake
New York City Council member Lincoln Restler openly celebrated the company’s removal, saying public land should not be used by firms whose technology is “being transformed into weapons of war.”
Critics argue the timing leaves little doubt about City Hall’s intent. The Navy Yard’s board members serve at the mayor’s pleasure, giving Mamdani significant influence over lease decisions at the industrial complex.
Accusations of political targeting
New York State Assembly member Kalman Yeger accused Mamdani of weaponizing city policy against a company because of its ties to ‘Israel’, warning the move would drive jobs and investment out of New York.
Easy Aerial’s exit highlights a sharp break from the approach of former Mayor Eric Adams, who promoted cooperation with ‘Israel’-linked firms and once explored using the company’s drones for crime prevention in the city.
Official denial
City officials reject claims of political motivation. Brooklyn Navy Yard spokesperson Claire Holmes said the lease was not renewed for “business reasons related to operational and campus compliance matters,” insisting the decision followed standard review procedures.
Easy Aerial chief executive Ivan Stamatovski did not respond to requests for comment. Co-founder Ido Gur called the decision “upsetting” but declined further comment.
Despite official denials, the episode has fueled accusations that Mamdani is actively pursuing companies connected to ‘Israel’ as part of a broader political realignment at City Hall, a strategy that is already reshaping New York City’s economic and diplomatic posture.
