U.S. Father of Abducted Citizen Urges NYC Mayor to Stay in His Lane

Ruby Chen, father of a U.S. citizen killed after being abducted by Hamas terrorists, has told reporters that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani should focus on public safety and issues that matter to New Yorkers instead of matters outside his authority.

“I think Mr. Mamdani is a good politician,” Chen said. “As a good politician, he wishes to deflect the issues that we New Yorkers care about for issues that are out of his jurisdiction.”

Chen’s remarks came in response to Mamdani’s refusal to directly answer whether he would arrest Hamas terrorists’ leaders if they came to New York.

Chen’s son, Etay, was 19 years old when he was abducted during the October 7 attack. Israel later determined he was killed during the assault and that Hamas terrorists were holding his body in Gaza.

A native New Yorker, Chen said voters elected Mamdani to improve conditions in the city rather than weigh in on international affairs.

“What New Yorkers elected him for was to make sure that our streets are safe,” Chen stated. “We want to have safe subways. We want to have a lower cost of living. That is what he was elected for, and he should stay in his lane instead of talking about other things that have nothing to do with what he was elected for.”

Chen also highlighted the deaths of 46 U.S. citizens during Hamas’ October 7 attack. He noted that he has pursued legal action under the Anti-Terrorism Act against individuals and organizations he says helped finance Hamas terrorists.

“Thank God in the United States there is legislation,” Chen said. “We are suing those who aided Hamas and moved money that caused the deaths of U.S. citizens.”