Josh Kraft, the Boston mayoral candidate whose family is known for its staunch support of Israel, said Wednesday that he thinks the situation in Gaza is unacceptable and that Benjamin Netanyahu “has to go” as Israel’s prime minister.
“I’m an American Jew, you know, I’m a supporter of Israel, but it’s — I think it’s horrible what’s happening now,” Kraft said during an interview on GBH’s Boston Public Radio, in response to a question from cohost Margery Eagan about Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.
“Any war, wherever it is, there’s collateral damage,” Kraft added. “But you know what, when it’s kids, I got a problem with that. And it’s horrible what’s happening to the kids in Gaza. Starvation. And altogether it’s horrible. I don’t like looking at it. I think there needs to be a change in Israeli leadership.”
About 19,000 children have been killed in Gaza, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, since Israel launched its counterattack after the Hamas terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023.
Asked by Eagan if the United States should continue providing offensive weapons to Israel, Kraft initially seemed to change the subject, but then backtracked.
“Look, I don’t want to talk about those federal issues,” Kraft said. “I want to foc — boy, I’ve worked with kids, I think it’s horrible what’s happening. ... It’s not right. I think Netanyahu has to go.”
The Kraft family, which owns the New England Patriots, has a prolific record of pro-Jewish and pro-Israeli giving and activism. Boston’s Combined Jewish Philanthropies are housed in the Kraft Family Building, for example, and Robert Kraft, Josh Kraft’s father, has led NFL players and coaches on multiple “Touchdown in Israel” trips during which they visit the country and tour religious sites.
Robert Kraft also was awarded Israel’s Genesis Prize in 2019 by Netanyahu and Genesis Prize Foundation Chair Stan Polovets for “outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity, and commitment to Jewish values.” That same year, Robert Kraft launched the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism following the 2018 Tree of Life Synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. And in the Boston area, the Myra and Robert Kraft Passport to Israel Program aims to build strong connections between young local Jews and Israel.
Israel’s actions in Gaza and America’s military support for Netanyahu’s government have not emerged as issues in the 2025 Boston mayoral race. Polling shows Mayor Michelle Wu is leading Kraft by a wide margin. Josh Kraft’s past donations to right-wing politicians supportive of Israel have previously drawn scrutiny, however.
Josh Kraft is still listedon the website of the Kraft Group as the president of the New England Patriots Foundation, the Kraft Group’s philanthropic arm. However, Kraft has said that he’s stepping away from that role to run for mayor. Kraft was previously president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston.
A spokesperson for Wu did not immediately respond to a query asking if she agrees with Kraft that Netanyahu should be replaced as prime minister.
A spokesperson for Robert Kraft also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
