(New York, New York) – The New York Times is facing backlash after publishing an opinion column that critics say draws a provocative comparison between Hamas militants and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents amid escalating immigration tensions in the United States.
The column, written by veteran foreign affairs commentator Thomas L. Friedman and titled “Minneapolis and Gaza Now Share the Same Violent Language,” appeared in The New York Times and links recent ICE operations and protests in Minneapolis to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
In the piece, Friedman argues that both Hamas operatives and ICE agents employ similar tactics, pointing in particular to the use of masks during operations. “Hamas and ICE also share one very visible trait that I never thought I’d see in the United States: Almost all of their foot soldiers wear masks,” he wrote, adding that masked enforcement has historically signaled wrongdoing in conflict zones he has covered in the Middle East.
Friedman went further, claiming that a side-by-side image of an ICE officer and a Hamas fighter would be difficult to distinguish, and criticized Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, questioning the optics of federal agents concealing their identities.
The columnist framed both groups as extensions of political leadership, arguing that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump have relied on force rather than diplomacy to maintain political power ahead of upcoming elections. He also compared Hamas violence in Gaza to fatal ICE encounters in Minnesota, including the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
The opinion piece quickly drew criticism from conservative commentators and pro-law-enforcement voices, who accused Friedman and the Times of falsely equating a U.S. law-enforcement agency with Hamas, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. Critics argued the comparison trivializes terrorism and inflames domestic tensions.
The controversy comes amid heightened debate over immigration enforcement, ongoing protests in Minnesota, and broader strains in U.S.-Israel relations. Friedman, a Pulitzer Prize winner known for his Middle East reporting, has previously sparked debate for his commentary on Israel and U.S. foreign policy.
