Fox & Watchdog
← Public evidence ledger
New York Post
Article misinformation risk ★★☆☆☆ 2.4/5 Use caution · 2 checked claims
politics

Muslim nonprofit flagged for hawking Hamas and other terror trinkets scored another $85K from taxpayers through NYC Council

The New York Post reports that the Muslim American Society of Brooklyn and Staten Island received $85,000 in NYC Council discretionary funding despite controversy after a Jan. 18 event at a MAS Brooklyn youth center where vendors allegedly sold merchandise supporting Hamas, Hezbollah and other designated terror groups. The Council says its Office of the General Counsel found no affiliation between MAS and the vendor and restored funding after MAS agreed to new vendor screening protocols.

Open the original New York Post article ↗

Unverifiable
Public importance 35/100

“During MAS New York chapter’s Jan. 18 'Thrift4Sudan' event at its Brooklyn youth center, vendors sold keychains, stickers, pins and other items supporting Hamas, Hezbollah and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, including slogans such as 'Let's go bomb Tel Aviv' and 'Death to the IDF.'”

Attributed to New York Post (reporting, citing The Times of Israel)

✓ Proof standard met 5 reachable references Independent-source requirement passed
Original context and attribution

The article alleges specific merchandise and slogans were present at the Jan. 18 event held at the MAS Brooklyn youth center.

What the proof shows

Multiple news outlets (New York Post and several reprints) report that vendors at the Jan. 18 Thrift4Sudan event at MAS New York’s Brooklyn youth center displayed merchandise with imagery/slogans tied to Hamas, Hezbollah and the PFLP and quote slogans like “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv” and “Death to the IDF.” Those accounts say they relied on a video briefly posted to Instagram by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation (PAL‑Awda) and on a Times of Israel report. I was able to independently confirm the event occurred at MAS (event listings) and that several outlets repeated the same allegation, and that City Council officials froze/paused funding pending review. However I could not locate the original Instagram video, primary photos, or a discoverable Times of Israel piece to corroborate the specific merchandise text or graphics. Because the reported primary source has been removed and no archived primary evidence or vendor receipts/photos are publicly available, the detailed assertions about exact slogans and which vendors sold them cannot be independently verified from available public records.

Corrected version

Multiple outlets reported that, according to a video that was briefly posted to Instagram and later removed, vendors at the Jan. 18 Thrift4Sudan event held at MAS New York’s Brooklyn youth center displayed merchandise featuring imagery associated with Hamas, Hezbollah and the PFLP. The original Instagram video and primary-source photos are not publicly available, so the claim’s specific quoted slogans cannot be independently confirmed.

Automated evidence confidence: 0%

References and proof

Every link was reachable when published. Each proof point states how that source bears on the claim.

Independent reporting Supports

Muslim nonprofit flagged for hawking Hamas and other terror trinkets scored another $85K from taxpayers through NYC Council ↗

New York Post
Proof point

Article reports vendors sold items bearing slogans including “Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv” and “Death to the IDF,” citing a since‑removed Instagram video and other reporting.

Independent reporting Supports

Muslim nonprofit fundraiser that raked in $265K from taxpayers features trinkets promoting Hamas, other terror groups ↗

AOL (republishing NYPost reporting)
Proof point

Repeats that vendors at the Jan. 18 'Thrift4Sudan' event sold keychains, stickers and pins supporting Hamas, Hezbollah and PFLP; cites a since‑removed Instagram video.

Independent reporting Supports

Terror merch sparks city funding freeze for Muslim nonprofit in New York ↗

JNS
Proof point

Reports MAS hosted a Jan. 18 Thrift4Sudan event and that reporting relied on footage from a now‑deleted Instagram video; notes City Council paused funding pending review.

Other Supports

Thrift4Sudan + Art Exhibit at MAS Youth Center, Brooklyn on 18th January, 2026 ↗

HappeningNext (event listing)
Proof point

Event listing confirms a 'Thrift4Sudan + Art Exhibit' was scheduled at MAS Youth Center, Brooklyn on January 18, 2026.

Independent reporting Supports

Muslim nonprofit fundraiser that raked in $265K from taxpayers features trinkets promoting Hamas, other terror groups ↗

Yahoo News (republishing NYPost)
Proof point

Repeats NYPost account that merchandise featured images of Hassan Nasrallah and Yahya Sinwar and slogans including 'Let’s go bomb Tel Aviv' and 'Death to the IDF,' citing The Times of Israel and a removed Instagram video.

Missing important context
Public importance 35/100

“The NYC Council's Office of the General Counsel investigated, 'found no affiliation' between MAS and the vendor Thrift For Gaza, MAS ended its relationship with that vendor, and the Council restored the nonprofit’s funding after MAS committed in writing to enhanced vendor screening and prevention protocols.”

Attributed to Yoav Gonen, spokesman for the NYC Council (as quoted by the New York Post)

✓ Proof standard met 5 reachable references Independent-source requirement passed
Original context and attribution

Article quotes the Council spokesman describing the outcome of the Office of the General Counsel's inquiry and the conditions for restoring MAS funding.

What the proof shows

The claim mixes verifiable facts (the City Council’s adopted Schedule C lists discrete discretionary awards to the Muslim American Society of Brooklyn & Staten Island that add up to about $85,000) with assertions reported only via a Council spokesman. The New York Post (and several other outlets) quote Council spokesman Yoav Gonen saying the Council’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC) “found no affiliation,” that MAS ended its relationship with the vendor (Thrift For Gaza), and that funding was restored after MAS “committed in writing” to enhanced vendor screening. I located the primary Council budget document showing the $85K in Schedule C and the Council’s discretionary-funding policies describing vetting procedures, but I found no public OGC memo, written agreement, or MAS public statement independently corroborating the spokesman’s account. Therefore the funding amount and Schedule C entries are supported by primary records, while the OGC finding and the written commitment by MAS appear to rest on a spokesman’s assertion reported by the Post and are not independently documented in public Council records I was able to find.

Corrected version

The City Council’s adopted Fiscal 2027 Schedule C lists discretionary awards to the Muslim American Society of Brooklyn & Staten Island that total about $85,000. The New York Post quotes a Council spokesman saying the Council’s Office of the General Counsel investigated, “found no affiliation” between the nonprofit and the vendor, that MAS ended the vendor relationship, and that the Council restored funding after MAS allegedly committed in writing to enhanced vendor-screening protocols; I did not find a public OGC report or a public MAS statement confirming those specific investigatory findings or the written commitment.

Automated evidence confidence: 0%

References and proof

Every link was reachable when published. Each proof point states how that source bears on the claim.

Official data Supports

Fiscal 2027 - Schedule C (Final) ↗

New York City Council
Proof point

Entries listing 'Muslim American Society of Brooklyn and Staten Island, Inc.' with Tax ID 454661688 (various line items): $40,000 (DSS/HRA), $15,000 (DYCD), $10,000 (DYCD), $15,000 (DYCD) and $5,000 (DYCD) across Council member designations — Schedule C adopted for Fiscal 2027. (Document shows discrete awards to the organization that sum to roughly $85,000.)

Independent reporting Supports

Muslim nonprofit flagged for hawking Hamas and other terror trinkets scored another $85K from taxpayers through NYC Council ↗

New York Post
Proof point

Council spokesman Yoav Gonen said the legislative body's Office of the General Counsel conducted an investigation and 'found no affiliation' between the nonprofit and the vendor 'that sold the controversial merchandise,' adding that MAS ended its relationship with vendor Thrift For Gaza. 'The nonprofit's funding was restored after its leadership committed in writing to enhanced screening and prevention protocols for all future vendors using its space,' he said.

Official data Contradicts

Discretionary Funding Policies and Procedures (FY2027) ↗

New York City Council
Proof point

The Council has an extensive vetting process, which includes news article searches, review of social media, conflict-of-interest checks, tax-warrant database searches, prequalification via PASSPort, and other reviews before awards are contracted. (Describes vetting but does not publish OGC investigation memos or require public posting of OGC findings.)

Independent reporting Supports

Brooklyn Muslim Nonprofit Under Fire Still Rakes In City Council Cash ↗

Hoodline
Proof point

The city's Fiscal 2027 Schedule C names the Muslim American Society of Brooklyn and Staten Island on multiple DYCD and local-initiative line items. Hoodline notes the Post reported the Council’s Office of the General Counsel told staff it had 'found no formal affiliation' between the nonprofit and the outside vendor that sold the disputed items.

Official data Supports

File #: Res 0540-2026 — RESOLUTION TO ADOPT A CONTRACT BUDGET (Fiscal 2027 - Schedule C) ↗

The New York City Council (Legistar)
Proof point

Resolution (adopted 6/30/2026) to adopt a contract budget including Fiscal 2027 Schedule C — confirms the Schedule C allocations were adopted by the Council.

COMMUNITY EVIDENCE

Discussion

Disagreement is welcome. Spam and abuse are not.

No published comments yet. Add evidence or challenge the reasoning.

Members can comment for free

Create a free membership or sign in.