By Aidan McLaughlinMay 12th, 2021, 9:08 am Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images Andrew Yang, a leading contender for New York City mayor, issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday addressing the backlash to his tweet expressing support for Israel amid the explosion of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. “I’m standing with the people of Israel who are coming under bombardment attacks, and condemn the Hamas terrorists,” Yang wrote on Tuesday. “The people of NYC will always stand with our brothers and sisters in Israel who face down terrorism and persevere.” The tweet drew unlikely support from the likes of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). But it also sparked fury among progressives who accused Yang of ignoring the innocent Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes in the current crisis.