In a controversial move, The New York Times published a guest essay on Christmas Eve by Yahya R. Sarraj, the mayor of Gaza City, which sparked outrage and backlash from human rights activists, media commentators, and supporters of Israel. The essay, titled "I Am Gaza City's Mayor. Our Lives and Culture Are in Rubble," discussed the destruction of buildings and civilian infrastructure in Gaza caused by the Israeli invasion following the October 7 terrorist attack by Hamas gunmen, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 soldiers and civilians.

Sarraj's op-ed highlighted the significant damage inflicted on Gaza, including the destruction of iconic symbols, the beautiful seafront, libraries, archives, and any economic prosperity the city had. He expressed his heartbreak over the relentless destruction and described the obliteration of Gaza's way of life as indescribable. Sarraj also lamented the loss of cultural riches and municipal institutions, such as the Gaza Zoo, the main public library, the Children's Happiness Center, the municipal building and its archive, and the seventh-century Great Omari Mosque.

However, the decision by The New York Times to grant Sarraj a platform drew criticism from multiple sources. Some pointed out that Sarraj was appointed mayor by Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, and accused the publication of amplifying “Jew hate” by providing a platform to someone associated with Hamas. Critics argued that Hamas had perpetrated the rape, kidnapping, and murder of innocent Israeli civilians, and questioned the ethical implications of publishing an op-ed by Sarraj. They drew parallels, asking if The New York Times would also publish an op-ed from Al-Qaeda justifying the 9/11 attacks.

The use of information from the Gaza Health Ministry and other Palestinian organizations by The New York Times and other media outlets also received criticism. The paper had previously admitted in October that it should have taken more care with the initial presentation of an explosion at a Gaza hospital, as they had relied too heavily on claims by Hamas and the Gaza Health Ministry. This raised concerns about the objectivity and accuracy of the information being disseminated.

Despite the backlash, some defended The New York Times for providing a platform for Sarraj's perspective, emphasizing the importance of hearing diverse voices and opinions. However, others argued that Sarraj's essay lacked important context, particularly the Hamas massacre that led to Israel launching its assault on Gaza.

The publication of Sarraj's op-ed came shortly after the controversy surrounding Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's social media post, which denounced Israel as a violent occupying force and compared Palestinians to Jesus. The combination of these events intensified the discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the portrayal of Israel in the media.

The New York Times has not responded to requests for comment on the controversy surrounding Sarraj's guest essay. However, critics of the publication pointed out that former op-ed page editor James Bennet was forced to resign after allowing a guest column by Senator Tom Cotton, which called for a forceful military response to protests against racial injustice. Bennet recently acknowledged that the Times has a "liberal bias" that has transformed into an "illiberal bias," shutting down debate rather than promoting it.