Governor Kathy Hochul Reveals She Rejected Idea of Leaving Israel Early When Her Father Died: ‘I Will Mourn Him Later’

New York Governor Kathy Hochul rejected the idea of taking an immediate flight back to the U.S. upon learning her father died while she headed to Israel last year.

Monday marked the first anniversary of the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks in Israel, where Hamas fighters killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped 250 more. The security breach and subsequent bloodshed stunned Israeli and world leaders. In response, Israel has been waging war in Hamas-controlled Gaza, where the health ministry has reported at least 40,000 killed. Israel also expanded its war against Hezbollah by invading Lebanon earlier this month.

Hochul visited Israel about 10 days after the attacks. But while in the air, her 87-year-old father, John Courtney, died from a brain hemorrhage.

On Sunday, Hochul delivered remarks at a synagogue in White Plains, New York, where she explained that she spoke with him from the airport while waiting to depart for Israel.

“He said something that was so quintessential crusty, old Irish Catholic guy,” Hochul explained. “He said, ‘Dolly, I’m so proud of you, but keep your goddamn head down.’ Okay, Dad, I will do that. Little did I know as I was flying across the ocean, that my father ended up in a coma that night, and I landed and found out he had passed.”

Upon learning of his death, her staff was arranging for Hochul to fly back to the U.S., but the governor dismissed the idea:

My staff immediately said, “We’re making arrangements for you to head back home,” and I said, “No you’re not, because I can’t bring my father back. I will mourn him later. I am here to comfort a nation.” But what I felt in return as I walked the streets and the story of what had happened was out, and I went to the wall. I had two pieces of paper. One for the people of Israel and one I had to have for my dad. I said, “They comforted me and that was a sign of the spirit and resiliency that you spoke of.”

Hochul also criticized college students protesting the war in Gaza. The next day, she ordered flags in New York to be flown at half-staff to remember the victims of the Oct. 7 attacks.

Have a tip for us? tips@mediaite.com