‘Pressure’ from ‘pro-Palestine’ Mamdani spurred drone company’s ouster from Brooklyn Navy Yard
The head of a drone-manufacturing company that supplies the Israel Defense Forces claims his business is being forced out of the city-run Brooklyn Navy Yard due to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s “pro-Palestine” stance.
The Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corp. (BNYDC), which oversees the 300-acre industrial park and whose board members serve at the mayor’s discretion, announced last week it would not renew Easy Aerial’s lease, citing “business reasons.”
Shahar Abuhazira, CEO of Easy Aerial, told The Post that in private conversations with Navy Yard board members, he was told Mamdani is behind the decision. “They told me there definitely was pressure from the mayor’s office and recommended not fighting it,” he said. The move ends the company’s seven-year presence in New York City.
Easy Aerial has faced protests at the Navy Yard since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, sparking a war in Gaza. A group called “Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard” has repeatedly demanded eviction of tenants that assist Israel.
Abuhazira said security above Easy Aerial’s office became “suddenly” more lax after Mamdani took office, and cited recent break-in attempts that caused broken windows and other damage. During a Feb. 11 rally, protesters occupied the building lobby for six hours, taunting co-founder Ivan Stamatovski while NYPD officers escorted him, footage posted online shows.
Easy Aerial supplies surveillance drones to the Israel Defense Forces for reconnaissance along the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, but most of its work is with the U.S. Air Force and other federal agencies. Its drones also monitor the U.S.-Mexico border and have been used for high-profile events, including Super Bowl security.
The 100-employee company has received relocation offers but hopes to stay in Brooklyn, where most staff live. The company must vacate the Navy Yard by the end of June and is considering legal action. “Five months ago, we doubled the size of our space, and they had no issues,” Abuhazira said. “But since the new mayor got elected in November, everything has changed.” He added, “This is going to cause us a lot of damage. It is not easy to move a company on such short notice.”
The Mayor’s Office did not respond to requests for comment. Navy Yard spokesperson Claire Holmes said the lease decision predated Mamdani taking office. “BNYDC declined to renew Easy Aerial’s lease in December 2025 after repeated compliance issues dating back to 2023, which include flying drones in unauthorized areas and improper usage of utility sources,” Holmes said.
Holmes added that BNYDC had repeatedly communicated these issues to Easy Aerial over the past three years and that there were no other factors influencing the decision. She also said the Navy Yard connected the company with Empire State Development Corp. to help find a larger space in New York with FAA-approved drone flight areas and reliable utilities.
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