Ex-Knicks star Amar’e Stoudemire criticized politicians and Black Lives Matter advocates who haven’t spoken out against Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, questioning their silence in an emotional Instagram address.
Stoudemire, who received Israeli citizenship in 2019, posted the video a day after Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, carried out a surprise ambush on Israeli towns early Saturday.
“I woke up this morning with some disturbing news out of Israel that Hamas [are] kidnapping children, putting them in cages, killing women, killing the elderly,” Stoudemire said in the video Sunday.
“That’s some coward s–t. That’s cowardly. And for all y’all Black Lives Matter [supporters] who ain’t saying nothing – ‘Let me figure out exactly what’s happening before saying anything’ – f–k you.”
Israel declared war after the onslaught. More than 1,200 people on both sides have since been reported dead, including nine Americans.
Stoudemire, a six-time NBA All-Star, spent parts of five seasons with the Knicks. He played multiple seasons in Israel following his U.S. basketball career, and he converted to Judaism in 2020.
On Monday, Stoudemire wrote in another Instagram post that he is not apologizing but recognizes “in a moment of passion that there is a better way that I can communicate my emotions about the conflict.”
“To Black Lives Matter and the Politicians,” Stoudemire, 40, captioned Monday’s post. “I recognize that it is everyone’s choice if they want to speak about the conflict and that while I may want people to say more, that there is a better way that I can communicate that.”
He continued, “I want to make sure to mention that I am thankful for all of the work that people as a whole have done so far for their communities and I hope that we all strive to do more.”
Stoudemire also played for the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks and Miami Heat during his 14-year NBA career.
